Homes with pre-listing inspections also help to SPEED up the buying process...... I love it when a seller takes my advice and spends the extra money to have the home inspected.

Jennifer, excellent point. A fast sell means a happy seller. I look forward to you stopping by again!

Real estate in MD and VA is sold "as is", subject, of course to an inspection contingency, which permits a REQUEST for repairs.  The buyer can kill the contract without asking for repairs if they don't like the inspection report.  Or, they can ASK for repairs and the seller can agree, disagree or negotiate some or money compensation. 

Unfortunately, too many inspectors give the buyer the idea that the seller MUST make all repairs listed.  They absolutely do not. 

I'm often surprised that agents would even list some of the homes in the condition we see them.  I believe the sellers just figure that if it was good enough for them, it should be good enough for a buyer. 

Sure makes it hard to get to settlement, but we do.

It is difficult to prepare some clients for the inspection.  I generally tell the buyere that is it more importatnt to get an inspector to tell you everything about a property before you decide to go forward with the purchase -- even if the seller does not want to pay to fix something.  I also tell the buyer we are looking for things beyond the normal wear and tear given the age of the home -- and of course, safety or health issues -  it helps puts things in perspective and set realistic expectations.

Lenn, I feel an inspetion contingency is necessary in all real estate transactions.

Here, the buyer can kill a contract depending on their view of an inspection report. I also agree a seller does not have to make all repairs listed. Most of the time they are minor areas of notice.

Sellers typically believe their home is perfect. It is generally not.

These are all good reason for a pre-listing inspection. A buyer normally will not kill a contract if all major areas of concern are taken care of, and a seller may be willing to accept an area of concern if a trusted inspector points out the problem in written form stating as such; especially if that problem will affect the price, or even the sale, of a home.