A pre-listing home inspection can help homeowners gain a complete picture they need to renovate and get their home ready for sale.

If you are selling a home and you want top dollar, a pre-listing home inspection should be on your list. These types of inspections are identical to the home inspections that buyers order after a home is under contract. What is different is that with a pre-listing home inspection, the seller (not the buyer) receives the information they can use to get their home ready and make the sale go smoothly.

Advantages of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

Quick Sale

Ordering a pre-listing home inspection can make the home selling process go more quickly. Especially when the market is competitive, a seller might forgo their own inspection and use yours. This saves them money, and it saves time, too.

Marketing

A pre-listing home inspection is going to give you an unbiased opinion about the condition of your home. This way, you and your realtor can set a fair price based on the sales of other similar properties in the area that will attract serious buyers.

Renovation Decisions

When you have a true picture of the state of your home, you have decisions to make. What repairs can you make that will help you sell your home for a premium price? Which renovations should you forgo? An inspector and your realtor can help you prioritize updates and repairs that will make your home show optimally.  Plus, you get to decide when these repairs are done and who to hire.

Stress Reduction

Nothing is worse than being ready to sell a property when unexpected issues are identified on a buyer’s inspection. This can lead to last-minute price negotiations to reduce the price or to make costly repairs. If you order a pre-listing inspection, you are almost guaranteed to avoid this scenario.

Disadvantages of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

Cost of Inspection

During the home selling process, a home inspection is generally ordered by the seller. If you order an inspection prior to having your home under contract with a seller, it means the cost of the inspection is on you.

Full disclosure

If you order a home inspection and it uncovers something major (mold, termite damage, foundation issues), you may have to disclose it and you will have to address it in some way.

It might be better to wait and let the buyer purchase the home inspection as part of the sales contract if you already have a good idea of the condition of your property, you don’t plan to make any repairs ahead of time, or your home is new.

What An Inspector Will Not Inspect

A home inspector will give you a general overview of the condition of your home. They won’t, however, be able to look inside the walls, pipes/sewer lines, chimneys, or behind electrical panels.

Homes can be affected by issues that do not have obvious telltale signs. This is why additional specialty inspections are offered.

  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Lead Paint
  • Mold
  • Pool
  • Radon
  • Septic
  • Sewer Scope
  • Termite/Wood Destroying Insect
  • Well Water Quality

Get Your Maryland Home Ready for Quick Sale

If you are thinking about selling a home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, contact Chad at Shore Inspection Services, LLC to schedule a pre-listing home inspection. We can help you and your realtor understand the condition of your home so you can get your home ready for sale at a premium price. Find out more about our frequently asked questions and see where we operate.