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Pre-Listing Inspections

By
Home Inspector with AIM Home Inspection, Inc.

As a home inspector, the great majority of my inspection work involves inspecting homes for buyers. Buyers inspections will continue to be our core business, but there is another way to accomplish the home inspection process.  Real Estate agents should consider having their listing clients home inspected prior to placing the home on the market.  I know this is not a popular concept with many agents, mostly due to disclosure issues. However, if a buyers inspection reveals a number of defects and the buyer walks away, all defects must then be disclosed to potential buyers. Would you rather know of any defects in advance, or wait until the buyers inspection that may delay or cancel the contract.

With the pre-listing inspection, the computer based report with digital photos included, would be available for potential buyers to review along with relevant repair receipts. The home could be marketed as "Inspected by Certified Licensed Home Inspector". This would certainly give you an advantage over competing properties. Most buyers of pre-inspected properties do not contract another inspection. The entire process would certainly progress much easier, the "unknown" factor would be eliminated. For a relatively small inspection fee, agents maight consider this as part of the marketing expenses. If the home sells quicker because of the inspection, the agent and client will save a lot more than the inspection fee. TRY IT!!

John Evans

 

 

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J Manno
Summit Realty Group, Inc. - Newport Beach, CA

 

Home inspectors are becoming more and more important in todays market. Thank you for the article.

Mar 22, 2008 03:28 AM
Dennis Sanchez
Coldwell Banker Tenafly - Hackensack, NJ
This could work.  I think that it would show better for possible buyers if they know up front what was wrong with the home, if there is any. I will take this into consideration
Mar 22, 2008 03:30 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

John, John, John.  Not all agents think that pre-listing inspection are a bad idea.  I believe that they are a wonderful idea.

In fact, I believe that every home owner should have their own home inspection every few years even if they are not thinking of selling. 

Poor or deferred maintenance will costs home owners many Thousands of Dollars when they sell. 

Mar 22, 2008 03:33 AM
Chuck Carstensen
RE/MAX Results - Elk River, MN
Minnesota/Wisconsin Real Estate Expert
I think more seller should do pre-listing inspections.  In this market its a way to see what sellers want to sell there house.  Of course short sale buyers don't want to put any money into it.
Mar 22, 2008 03:37 AM
Jonelle Simons
Windermere Real Estate - Park City, UT
I do pre-listing inspections too - THey are a great way to stand out!  Also, they give you a heads up if there IS anything wrong, BEFORE the buyer's inspector finds it anyway!
Mar 22, 2008 03:40 AM
The Michael Pierce Team
Better Homes & Gardens Kansas City Homes - Leawood, KS
Kansas City Real Estate Experts

The main thing that worries me is the increased liability to the seller.  When a buyer does not do an inspection of their own and finds out down the road that something was missed, who do you think they are more then likely to try to come after?  You and I know that it is the buyer's negligence for not getting their own inspection but a buyer may see it differently. The seller and "their" inspector must have "not have wanted the buyer to know about certain issues". 

I feel it insulates my sellers from that extra liability by not getting involved in pre inspections.  Pre-Inspections give buyers the false sense of security to not do their own inspection.  That is also why I tell my buyers of homes that have been pre-inspected that we will also do our own.  That is just my opinion,  not saying I am right and you are wrong.  I know a lot of agents who love them.    

Mar 22, 2008 03:47 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

I am a strong proponent of pre-listing inspections AND repairs.  It is a hard idea to sell to Sellers, though.

And I would never represent that prelisting inspection as evidence that the Buyer should not have an inspection.

Ergo, no liabiality issue for me.

We are forbidden by law in North Carolina from dissuading a buyer in any way from having an inspection performed.  A prelisting inspection does not void that law.

Mar 22, 2008 04:10 AM