December 1, 2023
Deciding whether to get a home inspection before listing your house can be a tricky decision. There are good reasons to do it, but also drawbacks to think about. Let's go over some of the key pros and cons so you can make an informed choice.
A pre-listing home inspection will help you understand the current condition of your home. The professional inspector checks major systems and components like the roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more.
Here are some of the reasons you might want to get a pre-listing home inspection:
While there are plenty of benefits to getting a pre-listing home inspection, it can also lead to some downsides.
By law, if a homeowner or real estate agent is aware of any issues in a property then they must be either repaired or included on the disclosure documents. Pre-listing inspections could lead owners to discover issues that they would have otherwise been ignorant of and now need to include on their disclosures.
The downsides of a pre-listing inspection include:
In general, a pre-listing inspection makes the most sense for older homes or those that haven't been updated recently. The likelihood of finding issues to address is greater, and these reports give sellers the flexibility to fix major issues within their own timeframe. Alternatively, they can choose to price their home competitively and market their home “as is.”
An inspection is also smart if you anticipate multiple offers as it streamlines the sale process. Potential buyers are provided with the inspection upfront and are less likely to pull out of their contract.
However, for newer homes in great condition, paying for an inspection may be unnecessary. If you're in a hot seller's market where homes go fast, doing repairs upfront provides fewer advantages.
Consider your individual home and market conditions when you decide whether or not your need a pre-listing home inspection.
The experienced agents at The Yates Team can provide you with trusted guidance on a pre-listing home inspection before listing. With over 30 years of real estate experience in Boston, The Yates Team understands this market and stays up to date on best practices for buying and selling homes in the area.
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