General Home Inspection Home Inspector Pre Listing Report is Key to Sell Smart

Is that when toxic mold, foundation cracks, radon or other major problems should be first identified? Of course not. But too many sellers play Russian Roulette, anxiously waiting for the home inspection report right before closing.

Pre Listing Home Inspection is Mandatory to Sell House Smart

To sell house smart, however, the buyer's general home inspection home inspector report should be the second, not the first home inspection of the house.

Here's why: in many cases based on adverse information contained in the home inspection report, the buyer will walk away from the deal (under failed contingency) or will try to re-negotiate a drastically reduced price.

Either way, the home seller loses, because buyers will deduct thousands from their offered price for fixes the home owner could have completed for hundreds of dollars before listing the house for sale. And if no other buyers are interested, there is no sale.

Sellers are correct - the buyer and new mortgage lender will require a separate home inspection. Many sellers mistakenly assume, however, that a pre-listing home inspection is a redundant, unnecessary, waste of time and money, etc. Right? Wrong!

The pre-listing home inspection is first in our sell house smart action plan of 7 simple steps. For smart sellers, it is mandatory, it is leverage, it will save you money, save the sale of your house and can even make you money, too.

Purpose of Pre-Listing Home Inspection.

A general, pre-listing home inspection should entail a detailed inspection of the house and all major components and systems of the house. The report will indicate systems and components that do not function properly, are significantly deficient, or are near the end of their service lives. Silence is truly golden in this instance, and indicates "good working order." Think of the pre-listing home inspection report as the house report card - what is working, what needs improvement, and what is out of commission.

Note: home inspectors can only review and report on readily accessible systems, structures and components. Inaccessible areas, blocked by furniture, locked doors, etc., will be noted and excluded from the report. The home inspector will also not the reason why the inaccessible areas were not inspected - similar to a home owner report card!

Because these "red flag" areas will also be noted by the buyer's home inspector and can delay the sale of your house, as a seller make sure your home inspector can access all necessary areas and systems.

Also, some systems, or their challenges, are beyond the expertise and scope of a a general home inspection. If so, the home inspector should recommend outside professional expertise. Be sure to follow up with a second opinion from a professional whose expertise directly includes the system or challenge at issue.

How to select a general home inspection home inspector.

Obviously strong recommendations from satisfied customers are an excellent start when interviewing potential home inspectors. Additionally, make sure the inspector is ASHI certified and licensed in your state (where required by law). Ask to see a sample report for both content and detail. Does the home inspector provide photography? This is an excellent addition to a pre-listing home inspection report.

What a general home inspection home inspector looks for. The scope of the general pre-listing home inspection is wide and detailed. Accordingly, we devote a separate page taking you step by step through the home inspection process. [This link is currently under construction]