Why a pre-inspection is a great idea.
- enren11
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
One of the smartest things a seller can do before listing their home for sale is to get a pre-inspection. And yet, it's something many sellers skip. Today, I want to show you how a pre-inspection can actually protect your price, timeline, and your peace of mind.
It's all about avoiding inspection surprises and being put in a position where you have to make a rushed decision. And, this is another way that a seller can enter the market with leverage, rather than "testing the market".
Here's the most common home-buying process we see in Kitsap County: a seller lists their home for sale without a pre-inspection; potential buyers tour the home, and they most commonly make an offer with a home inspection contingency. This contingency typically gives the buyer 5-10 days to have a professional home inspector inspect the home and provide a detailed report on any issues they find. Once the buyer gets that report, they have the option to ask for repairs to be done, for a credit from the seller to complete the repairs after closing, they can ask for a discount in the purchase price, or they can walk away from the house.
Because we have a lot of older homes here in Kitsap County, it's not uncommon to find surprises on the inspection report; this can happen on new homes as well. More often than not, surprises on the inspection cost the seller money.
Let's say the inspection comes back with a list of things to correct and they found that the roof needs to be replaced. The seller did not anticipate this and is caught off guard. Because inspection response times are only a few days, the seller is often rushed and faced with 2 choices: give a large credit to the buyer, or put the home back on the market. If they put it back on the market, buyers will wonder why it came back on the market, they'll have another inspection, and they will most likely find the same issues. And as a seller, you're having to navigate all of this while your home is on the market and the best buyer pool is deciding whether or not to make you an offer.
By having a pre-inspection, you can avoid all of this. Let's say that the same seller has a pre-inspection before going on the market. They would have found the same list of things to be corrected, including the roof that needs to be replaced. Now they can take a few extra weeks to get the house ready to list. The seller can have time to get multiple quotes from roofers and not be on a rushed timeline, allowing them to find the best price for a new roof. Then they can correct any other smaller issues and list the home with confidence. They can get an updated pre-inspection once the issues are corrected and provide that pre-inspection to potential buyers, giving the confidence that the home has been well cared for and that you, the seller, are well prepared.
Two very different scenarios on the same house: No pre-inspection, everyone is caught off guard by a list of repairs and the need for a new roof. Or, a pre-inspected house with corrected issues and a brand new roof.
This is why I provide a pre-inspection to my sellers at no cost. I want to help you enter the market with leverage, so that you can have a great home-selling experience.
If you're thinking about selling a home, I'd love to share my entire plan of how you can enter the market with leverage. Reach out any time to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation.
Comments