I like that idea and have started to discuss that with Realtors in my local area.  Good Luck

I always suggest that with all my Sellers. If we can head of a potential problem up front, the buyers will never see the problem.

That is a pretty good idea, I like that thought. For agents, it could be another incentive to get the seller to price the house to sell. If they can get it sold they can pay it through escrow instead of out of pocket. I have had a few sellers that have done inspections just to see what will be found in the future. I hope that this works well for you!

I have always encouraged agents to have sellers do a pre-listing inspection ... they will need to repair items prior too or have a list of potential issues.

Pricing terms are very flexible and will help many in a correcting market.

Good Job

Hi Rick,

I have also started a blog about Pre-Sale inspections. There are some pretty good comments and insight about it there.

I usually do a  Pre-Sale inspection, and charge 50% at the time of the inspection, and the remaining 50% due either at closing, or at the end of the listing, whichever comes first. It usually works out ok.

I  welcome everyones comments on my Pre-Sale blog. I am trying to get as many varied opinions as I can.

Thanks,

Kevin Corsa

H.I.S. Home Inspections

I still cannot get this going in my area.  The response is that the sellers really don't want to spend the money for this.  

I realized that most people only sell a house every once in a while... but they should be educated to the current environment of the Real Estate market.

Once you get someone interested in the property there should not be any surprises that will cost large chunks of money on the end or have a prospective buyer walk away.

Get that prelisting inspection done up front - clean up the little items and repair or disclose those other and when it comes up in the negotiations then it can be stated the house is price with all that in mind. 

This will save EVERYONE time and money. 

I just don't get it.

My company definitely does pre-listing inspections. We do not do as many of them as the buyers inspections but we do quite a few now. I've noticed that the realtors who have been around for awhile and are very professional seem to be the ones recommending them. i've actually had an article published in regards to these which I will try to dig up and post on my blog.

I always ask for payment on site and I do not offer any discounts on pre-listing inspections. Additionally I make sure that the seller and the realtor are aware that any potential buyer should still have their own inspection as I have a contract with them but the buyer will have no legal recourse if they don't have their own inspection done and a separate contract.

The agents that we've worked with have found that these pre-listing inspections bring help them list the home properly and stop the renegotiations that buyers usually make in escrow since everything is disclosed up front. Some sellers definitely want to keep their wallets closed but most savvy realtors can explain the benefits to them. (A few hundred bucks here could save you thousands in negotiations later.)

Hello there Rick.  Long time no talk to.   Hope all is well.  I am still trying on getting this going in western PA as well.  It is a slow go with the realtors.  I am working on them one at a time.  I have a few who try and push for them, althought it is not that successful yet.  I will keep you posted. 

I have done some pre-listing inspections the past year (maybe 5 or so). The last one was about 2 months ago in a very well to do town. The house has some issues, the owner had to spend some money up front but he fixed several items of 'major' importance. The seller called me last week to thank me for a teriffic job. He listed and sold his house in three (3), yep, three (3) day for the asking price. He almost had a bidding war on his hands but deceided the first buyer who offered listing price got the house. Some people are smart, some not so smart. I just hope all you pre-listing people aren't posting the "Certified Move-in" BS.