You Ask, We Answer: What Are the Pros and Cons of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
If you’ve been considering listing your Connecticut home for sale, you may have heard through the grapevine that it’s a good idea to conduct a pre-listing home inspection to get out ahead of any issues that could potentially become an issue for interested buyers. Before you spend the money on a pre-listing home inspection, though, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of conducting one–so you can make the most informed decision possible when selling your home.
What is a pre-listing home inspection?
Like the home inspections that the buyer conducts before deciding to enter into contract on a home, the pre-listing home inspection is conducted by a licensed home inspector to ensure the integrity of your home is in tact, and that there won’t be any huge surprises for the buyer that may delay the closing or even cause them to pull out of the contract altogether. While buyers generally pay for their own home inspections, a pre-listing home inspection is paid for by the seller–you, in this case! Sellers sometimes opt to conduct a pre-listing home inspection so they can address any red flags in the house prior to putting the home on the market. The thought is that if you find out ahead of time if there are any issues, you can repair them and bypass any potential issues in the contract-to-closing timeline.
The pros of a pre-listing home inspection
You’ll know what a licensed professional says about your home’s condition
Let’s face it: No matter how detached we try to be when listing our Connecticut home for sale, we still get emotionally involved. How can we not? Our homes are where we feel safe, sheltered, and surrounded by loved ones. But being sentimental about our home’s condition can get in the way of seeing potential issues, and that’s where a licensed home inspector can help. When a home inspector comes in to conduct a pre-listing home inspection, they can point out issues that may need addressing and point out potential blind spots that you’ve long since regarded as “just something to live with.”
You may be able to get a more accurate price for your home
A pre-listing home inspection may help you garner a more accurate listing price for your home. While you always want to consult your Calcagni Real Estate agent about how best to price your home to sell, knowing what needs to be fixed–or not! –may help them determine the best listing price to help move your home as quickly as possible.
Buyers may feel more secure about purchasing your home
Another pro of a pre-listing home inspection? Buyers may feel more comfortable putting in an offer if they can see what issues the home has and what you’ve worked to address. Some buyers may view it as a good faith undertaking that you wanted to fix issues in your house ahead of time, or they may feel secure knowing that the home inspector didn’t discover any red flags.
The cons of a pre-listing home inspection
You’ll have to disclose any issues to potential buyers
On the flip side, there are cons of a pre-listing home inspection, one of the most glaring being that you have to disclose any issues you find. Maybe it’s that hot water heater you’ve been putting off replacing, or perhaps there’s an issue with the roof that you weren’t aware of until now. Whatever the case may be, having a pre-listing home inspection may end up costing you money to make the repairs before listing, or it may reveal things to your buyer before they have a chance to fall in love with your house.
It’s another expense
Pre-listing home inspections can run you several hundred dollars, and at a time when you may already be putting money out to get your home ready to sell, this may not be ideal. And, as we mentioned above, discovering issues with your Connecticut home may mean you have to do something to remedy them before listing your house for sale–also another expense.
This doesn’t replace the buyer’s inspection
While having a pre-listing home inspection may make you aware of certain issues in your Connecticut home, it doesn’t negate the home inspection of your buyer, who still has a right to bring in their own licensed inspector. Different inspectors may discover different issues, which may mean your buyer requests that you address different things than you already have.
As you can see, there are valid pros and cons to having a pre-listing home inspection on your Connecticut home. Your best bet is to consult with your Calcagni Real Estate agent as to the best course of action for your unique home. With over 50 years in Connecticut real estate, there’s nothing we haven’t dealt with–including whether or not to conduct a pre-listing home inspection. Your Calcagni agent can guide you and answer any questions you may have–and they can recommend home inspectors, too!
