Should I Pre-Inspect My House Before Selling?

By Kandie Frederick

Growing up on the central coast, Kandie is a third generation family in the North County and a second generation family in real estate. Joining Country Real Estate in 2000, and graduating from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, she brings a background of Agricultural Business to combine with her knowledge of the local real estate market. Working with her family and their decades of local real estate development, she is deeply connected to the roots of our community and its growth.
“This area continues to grow as people discover what a great travel destination it is, and what a great wine region it has become. Eventually, they realize what a great place it is to live and work as well. Adapting to the needs of our clients in a changing environment is always a priority. We remain the longest standing brokerage in a community we are deeply invested in. Our longevity is attributed to our innate ability to understand the North County: its people, its properties, and its culture.” -Kandie

Do you need to sell your home fast? Have you scheduled any inspections yet?

Due to higher interest rates, home prices, and lower demand, you can’t simply throw your home on the MLS and expect it to sell in a couple of days, full price, as-is. That being said, you can still sell quickly in this market; but there might be a little more work involved. I always recommend my sellers do a pre-listing inspection if they want to spend as little time on market as possible. Here are three benefits of pre-inspecting your home:

Benefit #1: You can hit the market with a clean product.

The bottom line is that homes in better condition sell faster and for more money. Think about your pre-inspection like certifying a used car. Certified cars are a more desirable, because the buyer knows it checks out, and they are willing to pay more, with fewer negotiations. On the other hand, buyers will try to draw things out if your house is an unknown quantity. In other words, people will pay a premium for homes in good condition. Especially when that has been verified by an inspector. Whatever cost you put into your repairs and pre-inspection will be made up for in the sale.

Benefit #2: You can fix major issues before hitting the market.

As an agent, I’ve seen this situation play out too many times: My client finds the perfect buyer who is willing to give them everything they want and more. However, this buyer finds some major problem during the inspection process, and the deal is off, or they want an outrageous price reduction to compensate it. A pre-inspection will help you find any “dealbreakers” you need to take care of, ahead of time, which will protect your sale. This way, you continue packing and moving with peace of mind.

Benefit #3: Pre-inspections give you leverage at negotiations.

When you have a better product, you can ask more for it. Whether you want a quick sale, more money, or better terms, you need leverage to get what you want. One of the worst things that can happen during negotiations is for your buyer to use repairs as a negotiating point. By addressing issues upfront and creating more demand for your home, you can go into negotiations with a stronger position and get what you really want.

Hopefully, you understand why pre-inspections are so important. If you want to sit down for a pre-listing consultation, just call or email me. It’s 100% free. I have over 20 years of experience in this business and I’m here as your consultant and advisor in real estate. I look forward to hearing from you!