Should a Seller Obtain a Home Inspection? |
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Home inspections are standard practice for buyers of real estate.
Buyers want to know that the home they are considering is sturdy and in
good condition. While the buyer will pay for an inspection prior to
closing, it’s a smart move for sellers to pay for an inspection of
their own BEFORE the house goes to market.
While this may seem redundant at first glance, hiring a home inspector will allow you to discover both major and minor problems before the buyer does. This lets you take complete control of the situation and correct any issues at your convenience.
A buyer may want pricier materials than you would have opted for if the decision was yours alone to make. Since you’ll end up paying for repairs either way, taking care of things while no other parties involved can save you money in the long run because you can choose your materials and contractors with impunity.
For example, if your home inspector recommends replacing a medicine cabinet in the master bathroom, you can do it yourself using a modest medicine cabinet from the home improvement store. On the other hand, if the buyer’s inspector recommends it, the buyer may want a more expensive cabinet and prefer that a contractor performs the installation. By having the medicine cabinet repaired beforehand, it becomes a non-issue.
When the inspector finds a major defect, you have the opportunity to make a decision with your realtor. Together, you might decide that the home should be listed “AS IS” with full disclosure alerting potential buyers to the issue or you might take care of the problem on your own.
After repairing the house’s problems, you can have the inspector re-inspect the house and issue a new report that you can use to show the buyers. This is a terrific tool that shows the buyers that you are serious about selling your home and that it is in tiptop shape. They might still hire their own inspector --which is just fine because you know the results will be favorable.
A stellar home inspection makes your home stand out. Even if you only had to repair minor issues, the buyer might not have viewed them that way. They might have expected a steep discount because they were buying what was, in their eyes a “fixer-upper”, or simply passed on your house and chose one that required no work to get it up to their standards instead.
Not only will your home be in excellent shape, you won’t have to worry about failed sales based on a poor inspection. Many offers are based on the home inspection results. Poor results translate into lost sales.
By having your home inspected and making the necessary repairs sooner rather than later, you maintain control and have better leverage during negotiations. In addition, you’ll save money and offers won’t fall through based on a buyer’s inspection finding major damage. If you’re serious about selling your home, do yourself a favor and have it inspected before the buyers do.
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