Home inspections are routine for buyers. But what about sellers? Is it worth the expense before listing a home? Yes, real estate professionals told Homes.com.
Getting an inspection helps sellers avoid unexpected repairs and reassures the buyers of the owner's transparency and the condition of the home, said Gerard P. Liguori, broker/owner at Premier Estate Properties in Boca Raton, Florida. "This disclosure of repairs helps mitigate prolonged negotiations and reduction of price during the transaction," he said.
By discovering issues early, you can decide which repairs to complete, obtain competitive pricing from contractors and schedule work at your convenience rather than under buyer-imposed deadlines, said Liguori. An inspection can minimize the risk of future disputes by showing buyers that the seller took proactive steps to reveal the property's true condition.
Here's a checklist of what you need to know about a seller's prelisting home inspection:
Finding an inspector
- Ask your agent to refer several home inspectors
- Ask friends and family for recommendations
- Contact a local or state home inspection association for referrals
- Conduct a Google search for local inspectors
- Check to see if inspectors are licensed or certified
- Verify the credentials of candidates, checking for expertise, experience and reviews
- Compare prices of the candidates
- Make sure they answer all your questions
Getting ready for an inspection
- Clean and organize your home so an inspector can access hard-to-reach areas such as the furnace or attic
- Fix the small things yourself, like replacing light bulbs and replacing smoke detectors
- Make sure all your utilities are on
- Make sure that your smoke detectors are in working order
- Change your heating and cooling filters
- Tell them about known problems in the home
What should be inspected
- Roof: shingles, flashing, leaks
- Gutters and downspouts
- Siding, grading, drainage
- Foundation and structure: cracks, settlement, moisture
- Walkway and driveway
- Electrical systems: wiring panels, outlets
- Plumbing: pipes, water heater leaks, drainage
- Heating and cooling systems
- Crawlspaces or basement
- Mold and mildew
- Insect damage
- Interior features: windows, doors, floors and appliances
- Attic and insulation