Thinking of listing your property soon? Have you considered having your home pre-inspected before you do? If not I strongly encourage you to do so.
First things first, what is a pre-inspection or pre-listing inspection? A pre-inspection is an inspection performed by a certified inspector, paid for by the seller that provides a written report of the condition of the property. Like an inspection paid for by a potential buyer, a pre-inspection checks all major systems, windows, doors, signs of water damage, mold, and cracks. If you so choose you can also pay for radon testing, & lead-paint testing.
According to the National Association of Home Inspectors, only 10% of sellers have their homes pre-inspected before listing, citing money as a likely reason as pre-inspection ranges between $200 and $500. While a pre-inspection is not required, it certainly can give you an overall scope of the current condition of your home and eliminate any potential surprises. It can also give you time to address any issues before you officially list your home.
Some of you may be asking, “So how does this play out in real life?”. My wife, Erin, and I had our Loft pre-inspected before we listed toward the end of September 2020. Working as a Realtor it’s easy to see how certain items as a Seller can catch you off guard when seeing them for the first time after a potential buyer’s inspection. Despite virtually every inspector having a different lens, we wanted to avoid those aforementioned potential surprises and list our home with as much confidence as possible.
In summary, having your home pre-inspected before you list it is a pro-active step that will likely provide you something that money cannot buy which is peace of mind.