As the home-buying season approaches, usually in spring, prospective sellers shift their focus on whether their homes are ready for the market. To answer their question, many opt for a home inspection. A home inspection forms part of the home buying process. The buyer is responsible for the inspection, but the seller can have it done before selling their property. That is why pre-sale home inspections are so important.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), up to 25 percent of buyers are willing to make an offer without a home inspection. This is often done out of an urgent desire to have their offer accepted. While in some instances, the buyer could be comfortable with the property, especially if the seller previously paid for a house inspection before listing the house for sale, it is still a risk to escape this process. Pre-sale inspections can cost anywhere from $175 to $600 depending on the length and depth of the inspection. Thus, it is a worthy investment given that you will be paying hundreds to thousands of dollars for your new home.
Pre-Sale Home Inspection Versus Pre-Purchase Inspection? Who benefits?

There are honest people working in the realty industry. However, there are also scavengers out there looking to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting buyers. You should therefore be a careful buyer and make sure you do your research before signing any deal. Therefore, understanding the difference between a pre-sale and pre-purchase inspection is vital, given the misinformation out there.

The owner is responsible for conducting a pre-sale inspection. This inspection is often done in conjunction with the agency handling the property sale. This inspection is done to make sure that the agent is aware of any potential issues that might arise during negotiations. After identifying any problems, the agent can make repairs before placing the property on the market. This inspection does not protect the home, but serves to sell it. As a result, as a prudent buyer, you should not rely on this report. This inspection is more beneficial to the realty agency. Putting down a deposit based upon this report will be dangerous, regardless of whether you are buying a home or an investment property.

A pre-purchase inspection, on the other hand is in the buyer’s best interest. This responsibility falls on the buyer. You will need to receive an inspection report, complete with a photographic series, detailing everything about the property. This document is proof that you need to negotiate or renegotiate your price in order to get the property’s actual value. You will pay for the pre-purchase inspection, but this payment is worthy, given the return on investment. In the worst cases, you can use this report to terminate a contract and receive your full refund, should you find extreme deterioration or issues you are unwilling to live with. Then, the difference between the presale and pre-purchase inspection boils down to who the report is meant to benefit.
Why you should not skip a Pre-Sale Inspection

A pre-sale inspection is a good idea to do before you list your house for sale. This will allow you to assess the condition of the home and any potential problems it might present to potential buyers. The inspector will help you identify issues in the house and recommend the repairs. This way, you will also know which problems to disclose to the buyer during the sale.

When negotiating your sale terms, a presale home inspection can be very useful. If the inspection discloses issues, you can address them immediately instead of waiting for the buyer to request a remedy. You can resolve the issue at your own pace, rather than waiting for the buyer to do so.

You will be provided with a report detailing the problems and suggestions on how to correct them. The house can be sold with the costs of fixing the issues, or you can charge the buyer for the repairs. This information is valuable in pricing the property and ensuring smooth transactions.

The pre-sale home inspection is also a marketing tool. It informs buyers about the condition of the house. Buyers will also be informed of any potential surprises. An inspector might praise your home for its excellent sewer condition and how long it has been left in good condition. You can add this to your listing, making it more attractive than the rest in the market. Also, such a report will convince sellers that you are a serious seller and recommend you to potential buyers.

If you want to build confidence and trust between you and buyers, you need to be transparent. This is because a home is the most expensive item buyers will spend their money on. Buyers will need to determine if they are able to afford the purchase price and make future repairs. If a buyer is unsure about the condition of the home, they will make a lower offer. You can address such doubts with a pre-sale house inspection. This will ensure that the buyer makes an informed offer, knowing that the house has been thoroughly inspected and is in good condition.

It is also important to have pre-sale inspections of your home in order to speed up the sale process. Buyers want to know you have completed all the necessary steps and are ready to submit an offer. They don’t want a house that has unresolved issues. With an inspection report, you can confirm that the house is in great shape and worthy. You will feel more confident letting the buyer know that there are no problems with the house if you address them.

Finally, presale home inspections simplify the agent’s job. The owner handles all negotiations and pricing. Agents do this on their behalf. You will be able to save time and have a simplified process by hiring an agent. They will be able to find buyers much faster and negotiations will be easier since everything is in the light.

While you may have your pre-sale home inspection report ready and available, some buyers will insist on having their inspection. If this happens, your listing agent should attend to review the inspection and make sure that there aren’t any exaggerations. This is because buyers can be notorious and use a home inspection to start a renegotiation. Most cases will not involve issues such as roofs with a five-year span or roofs that are in need of replacement.
Pre-Sale Home Inspection Shortcomings

When it comes to pre-sale inspections of homes, disclosure issues are the biggest problem. In some states, sellers must disclose any known defects in their homes. You will be likely to be disqualified in such cases. Thus, consider finding out the disclosure laws in your state first, and, where possible, make the necessary repairs in the home before listing the house for sale, and this will become a non-issue.