Selling your home offers you the opportunity to reap the rewards of the investments you’ve made in it. However, you may also run into surprises that lower the value of the property and cut into your potential profit. A pre-listing home inspection is an excellent way to learn more about your house and verify that there are no major issues ahead of time. What are some of the best reasons to work with a professional home inspector?
Learn More About the Condition of Your Home With a Pre-Listing Home Inspection
If you have lived at your house for years, you no longer notice small issues simply because you see them every day. A pre-listing inspection provides you with detailed insight into the exact condition of your home. The inspector will share with you repairs that need to be made in addition to the strengths and weaknesses of the property. This information allows you to prepare for listing and raise the value of your home as much as possible.
Take Care of Repairs
Many homebuyers want sellers to make repairs, which is a key part of the negotiation process. If you have a pre-listing inspection, you are in charge of all repairs and able to determine how much you want to pay and who you want to perform them. If you wait until later, the buyer will be able to choose who is doing them and you will be stuck footing the bill. The inspector will educate you about what repairs can be left and which must be addressed.
Price the Home Accurately With a Pre-Listing Home Inspection
Real estate agents struggle when accurately pricing some properties, as outdated comps or changes to the market may influence what is appropriate. A pre-listing inspection offers detailed information about factors that could raise or lower the home’s value. Real estate agents also use inspection results during the negotiation process, and some buyers will accept them instead of having another inspection performed.
Market the Property More Effectively
Many home sellers think about inspections as opportunities to learn about the worst parts of their houses. However, you also learn more about the strengths of your home. For example, your roof might be in almost perfect condition despite being five years old. In other cases, landscaping features might add value to the property that you would not otherwise know about.
Attract Better Buyers
As a home seller, it is challenging to sort through buyers who are just seeing what is on the market and those who are ready to make a serious offer. A pre-listing inspection will attract buyers who are serious about buying a house and looking for the additional peace of mind that major repairs have been handled and someone has already inspected the property. Your inspection increases prospective buyer trust.
Redtail Building Services provides home inspections for buyers and sellers in Southeastern Virginia. Contact us to schedule an appointment.