BEHIND THE SCENE
Should sellers have their home pre-inspected before they put it on the market? Or for that matter, in this hot real estate market, is it worth it for buyers to have a home pre-inspected before they make an offer? The answer in both cases is not an easy one. Essentially it is both “yes” and “no”.
Let’s begin with homeowners. Without a doubt, a pre-listing inspection can help a home stand out on the market.
Not only does a pre-listing inspection offer buyers peace of mind, it may even help facilitate the sale of the home helping it to go through faster and more smoothly.
After all, it gives prospective buyers an overview of what they’re getting into right up front. Which means the risk of having to renegotiate a deal based on surprises found later in the process are practically nil.
But having considered all the positives of a pre- listing inspection, you should also know there are some negative aspects that can arise. For instance, an inspection may uncover issues that are expensive for a seller to repair. The homeowner will then have to repair any problems before listing, or they may have to consider selling the home “as-is”.
In short, a pre-listing inspection can be a gamble for homeowners.
Now let’s talk about buyers. Obviously, getting
a pre-listing inspection done before you make an offer is a good idea because it uncovers potential problems.
Plus, a pre-listing inspection allows you, the buyer, to waive an inspection contingency. This is important to sellers because you can’t cancel a deal over findings like you can with a regular buyer’s inspection—meaning that you are a more serious buyer because you have a true overview of the home’s condition going into the deal.
However, in this market, you do take the risk someone else may snap up the home before your inspection is complete. Meaning that you will have just paid for an inspection on a house you are not able to purchase.
The bottom line is: whether you should pay for a pre-listing inspection is really up to you and your agent’s best judgement.
I hope we enlightened you to a few things you may not have considered before so that you can make the best decision possible.
Because that’s what Team Athey is all about— helping our clients make the best decisions according to their special needs.
I’m Suzanne Athey, founder of Team Athey & Remarkable Property Management. If you’d like to know more, call me at 469-916-1222 or email me at suzanne@teamathey.com. I’d love to visit with you and discuss the many options available in this hot market.
