Six reasons why to get a home inspection as soon as you decide to list your home.
Selling your home? A recent survey showed more than 85 percent of buyers who applied for financing asked for an inspection of the home they intended to buy. Today’s savvy home buyers rarely leave things up to chance – they want to be assured they are getting great value.
Despite this growing trend, many sellers still wait for buyers to take the initiative on inspections.
A seller might save a few hundred dollars by waiting until the buyer makes the first move, but this is rarely worthwhile. In fact, there are many benefits to taking the plunge and getting an inspection as soon as you decide you are serious about putting your property on the market.
Let’s look at six of the biggest ones:
- Attract More Buyers
Savvy buyers who have purchased a property before will know about the necessity of a home inspection and will appreciate this is one less step (and expense) they need to worry about. New buyers seeking their first home may not be as savvy at first, but they will soon figure it out. All in all, an inspection will reassure and attract more would-be buyers. - Accelerate the Sales Process
Sooner or later, an inspection will happen – and when it does, it’s bound to turn up something. Relatively minor issues might throw a wrench into your hopes for selling your home. When you get proactive, you have the chance to resolve problems that might otherwise add months to the sales process. Plus, in many cases, you can turn those fixes into part of your sales pitch. - Provide a Stronger Negotiating Position
Most home sales involve some “give and take” over the final price. Buyers will look for anything they can find as a reason to maneuver excess costs onto the seller. With a recent inspection report in hand, you can counter these moves without any sour grapes – you’ve gone the extra mile to ensure that everything in the home is on the up and up, after all! - Reduce Recurring Repair Bills
It isn’t always easy to determine the true source of a recurring problem in a home, even a newer one. For example, if your toilet drains slowly, you might simply need to snake it … or you may have a major issue with your septic system. Whatever the case, an inspection helps you get to the real root of the problem. It saves money if you don’t sell and improves your price if you do. - Take Control of the Process
Unless you find out something truly appalling, you don’t necessarily have to take time to repair whatever an inspection turns up. Instead, you have the options of lowering your price or going “as-is.” All in all, an inspection gives you the opportunity to take the steps that are right for you, instead of running to catch up to a buyer whose inspection uncovers unwelcome surprises. - If You’re Selling Your Home, Start With an Inspection
In today’s real estate market, a seller’s pre-inspection of a home is a mark of quality that buyers increasingly expect. If you put your home on the market and don’t find interested buyers in a relatively short time, an inspection is one precaution you’ll end up taking.
With all that in mind, selling your home should almost always start with an inspection. It’s an essential step, just like making basic repairs, listing your home in the right places, staging it for potential buyers and partnering with a real estate agent you can trust.
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CBR, SRES - Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Phone: 516.849.5895 | [email protected]
As an experienced professional Neil will do the leg work, keeping you up-to-date with new listings and the various market conditions that may impact the home purchase process. Sellers can also benefit from his skills in finance, negotiation, contractual agreements, and RE marketing. Call today and allow Neil to guide you through the complexities of buying or selling your home, eliminating hassles, and stress.
Member of:
National Association of Realtors
Long Island Board of Realtors
Multiple listing service of long Island
New York State Association of Realtors