Janette Dickinson

“The American Dream”

Why Sellers should have Inspections completed prior to
Listing their Home for Sale

Much is written and said about the cosmetic aspects of staging one’s home for sale. Two very crucial preventative measures should also be on a seller’s top priority list. These are prelisting inspections which include but are not limited to a structural/mechanical inspection and wood destroying insects inspection. A little effort before the listing will not only help to reduce your stress before the closing, but it may well save you additional monies spent. Read on to understand the benefits of prelisting inspections.
In today’s Real Estate Sales just about every contract will include a home inspection option for the buyer. Most buyers put a contingency in their offer to purchase subject to a structural/mechanical inspection and termite inspection. To eliminate surprises, added stress and extra expense; it is wise for the seller to have these same inspections completed before the house is listed for sale. This investment by the seller removes undue concern that items in the house may not be working correctly or that their disclosure statement is not accurate.
The purchase agreement requires that a house be conveyed with all systems in working order. During the period of time between the “meeting of the minds” and the removal of the inspection contingencies, the buyers are the most vulnerable to an attack of buyer’s remorse. This is also the time when anything that hasn’t been repaired could become a major issue. A pre-inspection also removes the pressure of repairs necessary after a buyer’s inspection and the possibility of not being able to complete the repair within the contractual time limit. Basically, this will also help reduce or eliminate a second round of negotiations over repairs or reduced sales price in lieu of repairs that an inspector recommends be completed. It also reduces the risk that the agreed upon threshold for repairs in the offer to purchase is exceeded and the buyer uses that as an excuse to “back-out” of the offer.