What Is A Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
An pre-listing home inspection consists of a non-invasive physical examination of your home's systems, structures and components intended to identify material defects that exist at the time of inspection. The heating and cooling equipment is activated along with operating plumbing fixtures, testing accessible electrical outlets and fixtures, and operating a representative sampling of doors and windows. Visual inspection of the roof, walls and drainage adjacent to the home are included. Because of the wide range of construction practices and the normal wear and tear placed on the components of home, a professional home inspection can help provide a wealth of information to a home seller anxious to convey the condition of their home to prospective buyers. View sample pages from an inspection report.
Back to the top
How Can A Pre-Listing Inspection Benefit Me As A Seller?
Home sellers are being urged to utilize home inspections prior to listing their homes. Professional pre-listing home inspections can reveal unknown conditions allowing sellers an opportunity to perform desired repairs before placing the property on the market. There is no such thing as a home that is too new or too well built to benefit from a professional inspection. Many problems frequently encountered during sales negotiations are a routine discovery for a qualified home inspector. A pre-listing home inspection is just good business as it may facilitate a smoother transaction by putting potential buyers at ease, reducing negotiating points, and bypassing annoying delays.
Back to the top
When Should I Request A Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
This depends on you as the seller. Some sellers may simply choose to have a pre-listing inspection available to prospective buyers as a marketing tool and to use in future negotiations. Other sellers may desire to address certain issues before placing their house on the market. The choice is yours. Either way, once the inspection is performed, you will have your Home Reference Book with your report on the spot, and you will have marketing materials for prospective buyers within 48 hours.
Back to the top
Can A Building "Fail" The Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
No. A professional inspection is simply an examination into the current condition of house. It is not an appraisal or a Municipal Code inspection. An inspector will not pass or fail a house but will simply describe its condition and indicate which items may be in need of repairs or replacement.
Back to the top
If The Report Is Favorable, Did I Really Need An Inspection?
Definitely! Now you can place your home on the market with peace-of-mind about the condition of the property, its equipment and systems. You have a terrific marketing tool to make your home stand out from the others. It gives potential buyers the confidence that they are making a well-informed purchase decision. Finally, a favorable report may reduce negotiating points and speed along the sale of your house.
Back to the top
Do I Have To Repair Everything That Is Wrong With The House?
A pre-listing inspection report is not intended to be a "to do" list for the seller. As the seller, you are not obligated to repair conditions noted in the report, nor are you required to produce a flawless house. With a pre-listing home inspection, potential repair items already known by both parties are subject to any negotiations. A home seller can make repairs as a matter of choice, not obligation, to foster goodwill or to facilitate the sale. Sellers maintain the legal right to refuse repair demands, except where requirements are set forth by state law, local ordinance, or the real estate purchase contract.
Back to the top
If We Have Repairs or Improvements Done After the Original Pre-Listing Inspection, Can These be Recorded on the Summaries and Home Reference Book Report?
Most sellers address these repairs and/or improvements with any buyers by including proof of work, such as work order receipts, with the report and summaries. This is the fastest way for you to include the updates. For us to note the repairs/improvements on the summaries and Home Reference Book report, we would need to revisit the property and make our updates. There is also a fee involved, generally $75.00 / hour.
Back to the top
What Disclosure Obligations Do I Have As A Seller?
Pennsylvania case law states that it is the duty of a seller to disclose relevant facts concerning the property for sale through a Seller's Disclosure Statement form. This basically means a seller of one to four residential units has a legal obligation to disclose all of the conditions of the property known to them to prospective buyers. While the listing inspection report cannot be used as a substitute for that disclosure statement, it does allow the seller to provide prospective buyers with additional unbiased, third party, professional information.
Back to the top
What Will The Pre-Listing Inspection Cost?
The inspection fee for a typical single-family house, multi-family house, or condo varies geographically, as does the cost of housing. Similarly, within a geographic area inspection fees may vary depending upon the size of the home, particular features of it, the age, the type of structure, etc. However, cost should not be a factor in the decision whether or not to have a pre-listing inspection. You may save many times the cost of the inspection if you are able to fix problems before placing your house on the market. For specific prices, please see our Fee Schedule.
Back to the top
Is There Anything I Can Do To Better Maintain My Property?
Home Inspection reports often identify the same neglected maintenance items time after time. Performing some basic maintenance can help keep your home in better condition thus reducing the chance of those conditions showing up on the inspection report. To present a well-maintained home to prospective buyers, follow these tips from the American Society of Home Inspectors®. Most of these items can be accomplished with little or no cost, and the benefits of selling a well-maintained home are worth the effort. For further ideas, please see our Marketing Tips For Home Sellers.
Back to the top
|
