Pre Listing Home Inspection?

Occasionally, I am asked if there is any value to having a seller conduct a home inspection prior to marketing their home. As with most things in real estate, the answer is “that depends.”

Some things to consider would be the goals of the homeowner, time restraints and whether the owner intends to make corrections if defects are discovered. Some homes are in excellent condition with no major issue to address. 

Having a home inspection may give the homeowner peace of mind that their home is in tip top shape, and may add little value to the process. There are many instances where a home needs considerable work, some of which may not be obvious to an inexperienced buyer. 

Consider this scenario. I met with a client in Watertown a few months ago to explore the possibilities and review the process of selling her home. As we walked through the home it became apparent that there were a multitude of issues that would be of concern to potential buyers. In addition to the obvious deficiencies such as peeling ceilings, older bathrooms and worn floors, there was evidence of a fire in the basement, the heating system had been converted to natural gas but the old oil tank still remained, and the home had previous termite damage although the property had been treated by a professional pest control company. After discussing all the work this home required, we decided that it was best to call a professional home inspector before the home was offered for sale. 

We knew these items would be brought to light by any competent home inspector, but we felt it would be of some help to prospective buyers to know the issues before they made their offer. By taking this approach, we hoped to accomplish two things. First, we address some of the problems that were within the owner’s budget to complete. Our second goal was to have prospective buyers submit their offers reflecting the work that needs to be done, thereby putting all buyers on an even playing field and hopefully eliminate the need to renegotiate the price after having their inspection.

In the end, we were working with more informed buyers which resulted in smoother transaction for all parties. Having a home inspection prior to putting your home on the market is one way of increasing the marketability of your home and shortening the time it takes to sell the property.