Georgetown Inspector Asks The Real Estate Agent a Question

I agree, but most sellers do not want to spend the money.

A sellers inspection is a relatively new idea in our area, but I believe we will be seeing more of them as the idea gets around.

I think your idea has merit, and have thought of using it as listing tool, at my expense.   But then that brings up a situation, what if the buyers have their own independent inspection and that inspector finds other items, that were not found by the first one?  What would you do as a disclaimer?  As I write this the thought comes to me, that if the listing agent had a disclaimer, and the sellers chooses the inspector from a list of inspectors.  Your idea is good, but I think it just needs some tweaking.  I for one would be willing to try it.

I'm trying to market it in my area.

 

I'm adding the option to pay at closing or at the end of the contract with the current realtor.  This may entice more people to do this.

It was also mentioned on CNN's Cashin In show on 11-17-07 that prelisting inspections and corrections are recommended so that the property is "more marketable".

To add to your list above.  I believe it lets the seller state that the house is priced with all the conditions disclosed and then there is no area for new price negotiations after a sale price is agreed upon.  

I wish you luck with this Gene.  The sticks in the mud around here are having a hard time picking up on new ways to do things along with new technology.

While I've done a few at agents recommendation, most come from smart educated sellers who have the knowledge about pre-listing inspections, usually from relatives in other areas or internet savvy customers.

They are smart enough to make the report public on www.homegauge.com, or Kentucky Home Inspectors Sample Report, have the agent link to it on the MLS, and have printed copies available for viewing in the home during showings.

Another draw back are those "less than thorough" inspectors who don't find most of the issues.  (Hey, nobody is perfect and can find "everything".)  When the buyer's inspector finds them, that then brings hard feelings toward that inspector and the seller.

Get a good inspection, fix and disclose as appropriate, and get rid of the last minute stress from repair negotiations. 

Here's an article from about a year ago in Realtor Magazine Online that tries to explain it.

Kentucky Home Inspectors Prelisting Inspection information from NAR

Perhaps our drought will dry up some of the mud so the sticks can get out.

A short funny,  A realtor in the Central Kentucky area called me some time back (one whose list I used to be on, but haven't heard from the agent or a buyer of the agents for over a year.)  Said "my spouse and I are buying a house.  We want you to inspect it and do one of the most thorough inspections you've ever done"   Guess I'm good enough for the agent, but not good enough for the agent's clients.

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Hi Gene,

This is  good question.  Personally, I have not pushed the sellers on the idea too much because, if I had my preference, I'd at least like them to take care of the things that they already know are wrong.  They are not always willing or have the time to do that. 

Thanks for commenting on my post about the warm weather and roses yesterday.

Thanks for you for taking the time to comment on this subject in the Active Rain network.  AR is the new "cyber backbone" of the industry, and with it's uplink to Localism.com it is transforming the real estate marketplace. Agents who don't see which way the cyberwind is blowing are going to find themselves at a considerable disadvantage inside of three to five years.

I have had several home oners and agents ask me about doing pre-listing inspections.  I tell them about all the advantages that you guys have listed.  When they ask if the buyers have a home inspection, I tell them that the buyers certainly should have a home inspections done. They should have somebody working on behalf of them. But if the buyers have a home inspection done, it's not like the sellers will have to pay for it so it's not like they are going to be out anything.  Could the buyers inspector "find" something the the sellers inspector didn't, sure they could. Hopefully it wouldn't be anything major or of considerable cost.  I tell any clients that are getting a pre-listing inspection that they need to keep in mind they are paying for my professional opinion and that my opinion may be different than another home inspectors (or anybody else for that matter).  If any amount of time has elapsed between the two inspections new "problems" may arise that were not visible during the first (sellers) inspection. 

Some of the agents in my area have praised the IDEA of pre-listing home inspections but do not push the clients.  Their reasoning is if they push the clients to spend more $$$$ they (the clients) will list with somebody else that tells them they can get more money and spends less to do it.

Less than 1% of my total residential inspections are sellers over the last 2 years.  Just can't get the seller to spend the money.  They know that the buyers are going to have one anyway.