Pre-Listing Inspections

According to Redfin, the number of homes for sale rose 9.5% year-over-year.  As home for sale demand is rising, they are also selling above list price, indicating that the housing market is competitive and bidding wars are becoming more common.  You want to get top dollar for your home when and if you list it, but you also want to make sure you don’t overpay in a bidding war because the home is a “hot home”, later to find out you overpaid and it was overvalued based on the amount of work it needs just to make it livable.

Pre-listing Inspections: Living in the Pacific Northwest, poor drainage or water damage is a major issue found in a lot of homes.  Major structural issues are often caused by a home’s bad drainage system, and water damage and other significant repairs can make a buyer think twice about buying your home or offering your top dollar listed. Especially scary is when a buyer hears structural problems. A pre-listing inspection will prepare you for what the buyer will try to negotiate with you on for your top listing price. 

Avoid surprises during the transaction. Knowing what will be found ahead of time can lower stress and prevent long-drawn-out negotiations. It’s also best to get a pre-listing inspection before doing any major remodel projects that will spruce up the aesthetic of the home, so that in the event the structure itself is unstable, any work and money put into it will not have to be taken out or even removed altogether, so you can make actual valuable improvements.

If your pre-inspection comes back clean, you will have more leverage when negotiating with buyers and you will be confident in knowing you have priced accordingly.

https://www.zillow.com/sellers-guide/pre-listing-home-inspection/