Q. Do I need an inspection before I list?
Answer:
Nearly all home buyers use a professional home inspector to go through the property to make sure there aren't any physical issues that could be expensive to fix down the road.
Now, home sellers are hiring inspectors to do a thorough inspection of the property before it's even listed for sale.
Called a "pre-listing inspection," it's actually just the same as the inspection a home buyer would pay for, and the inspector will charge you about the same amount as he or she would charge the buyer. But there are a few distinct advantages to knowing what the buyer's inspector will find before you list your home.
If you do a pre-listing inspection, the inspector will probably call your attention to a number of items that need to be fixed. Perhaps your furnace needs cleaning, or a couple of sockets are wired incorrectly, or your hot water heater has a valve that's come loose or isn't properly attached.
By knowing in advance what's going to come up on the buyer's inspection report, you have the option to fix the problem or disclose it when you list the property.
If you fix the problem, such as a leaky roof, then the issue goes away. If it's something more major, you can then disclose the item and make sure the buyer knows it in advance. This should stop the buyer from trying to renegotiate the listing price once you've accepted an offer.
But I vote for fixing the problem. In a tough market, one of the ways you can distinguish your home is by making sure the property is in as good a shape as possible. By fixing all the little items that come up on an inspection report, your home will show better.
And, a prospective buyer will be reassured that you've taken excellent care of your home, and there likely won't be major problems that will need to be taken care of in the near future.
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