It can take a lot of effort to get a Waterloo Region ready for sale, from minor property repairs to making sure every room is immaculate for the forthcoming open houses and home tours. One significant step that can really help save time and money is actually often skipped by sellers, though: a pre-listing home inspection.
The buyer usually pays for an inspection after making an offer on their house that's then accepted by the seller. The downsides of doing it this manner though are often many: a drawn-out closing procedure, wasting time and energy negotiating repairs, and a possible collapse of the sale.
Therefore, keep in mind a pre-listing home inspection if you're getting prepared to sell your house and want to ensure that the process goes as smoothly and swiftly as possible.
Not sure that you want to bother, especially as yes, it will cost money? Check out these 10 advantages of ordering a home inspection before listing your Waterloo Region home for sale, and maybe you'll change your mind.
1. You Can Plan Ahead for Repairs
A skilled home inspector will carefully examine your home during a home inspection to make sure there are no major flaws. The foundation, roof, plumbing, pipes, windows, doors, and other components will all be examined.
Wouldn't you rather take care of any issues that arise during a home inspection before putting your house on the market?
Without a pre-listing inspection, you won't likely learn about any potential problems with your house until the closing process' final inspection, which can cause major problems for your sale and possibly trigger last-minute discussions.
2. You Can More Accurately Set the Home's Price
Knowing the market, your own needs, and the estimated value of a home are necessary for selecting the ideal selling price. But how do you assign a value to anything when you don't know its real condition? A pre-listing inspection can help with that.
You can price your home more accurately if you have a thorough awareness of any problems or damage it may have. Perhaps the home requires a new garage door, or perhaps there are problems with older plumbing. You can include the cost of necessary repairs in the home's asking price if you choose not to address the problems found during a pre-listing inspection.
Then you can inform potential purchasers that even though the house has flaws, it will cost them less as a result. On the other hand, you can raise the asking price if you choose to make repairs or if the home inspection shows - and you can share the report - that it is free of any major problems.
3. You Can Speed Up Your Sale
A pre-listing house inspection has many advantages, one of the biggest of which is that it can expedite the purchasing process. The buyer can decide not to include the home inspection contingency in their offer, as you conducted a pre-listing inspection and provided them the report. This will speed up the closing process for both you and the buyer.
A pre-listing home inspection can reassure a buyer that there are no hidden surprises. With a shorter time between listing and closing and a less stressful selling procedure overall a clear possibility, it might even sway their purchase decision in the direction of your home over others.
4. You Can Steer Clear of Last-minute Bargaining
Last-minute bargaining is something that no homeowner selling a home wants to experience, yet they do happen occasionally in real estate deals. And regrettably, unplanned repairs frequently lead to last-minute negotiations. After a home inspection that turns up a problem, buyers may argue for a lesser price or even try to back out of the deal.
Potential problems can be discovered during a pre-listing inspection, giving owners the option of fixing them before listing the property or adjusting the asking price to account for the cost of repairs. Sellers are better able to avoid last-minute discussions following the home inspection and the possibility of the sale falling through when there are no hidden issues. And believe us, we've seen all kinds of issues crop up that sellers were unaware of!
5. You Will Boost Buyer Confidence
Buying a home demands a large financial commitment and, in some ways, a leap of faith. After all, a prospective buyer's biggest nightmare is purchasing a home with major problems like structural flaws, a mould infestation or the need for a new roof in a year.
A pre-inspection can help make sure that no detail is missed for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can move forward with confidence and sellers can be open about any potential issues.
6. You Can Reduce 'Transactional Tension'
Both the purchasing and selling processes can be very stressful, and there will be issues that need to be resolved by all sides. However, getting a pre-listing inspection might reduce one significant cause of stress: the state of a house that's for sale.
Sellers can relax knowing there won't be any surprises after the sale, and buyers can be sure they're making an offer on a home in good shape. This will ease the stress of the sales transaction process for everyone.
7. You'll Have a Competitive Edge in the Market
In today's competitive Waterloo Region real estate market, having a pre-listing inspection report can set your home apart from similar properties. It shows potential buyers that you're transparent and confident about your home's condition, which can be a significant selling point. When buyers are comparing multiple properties, a home with a recent pre-listing inspection often stands out as the safer, more attractive choice.
8. You Can Document Home Improvements
A pre-listing inspection provides an opportunity to document all the improvements and maintenance you've performed on your home over the years. The inspector can verify and note these upgrades in their report, which can help justify your asking price and demonstrate to buyers that the home has been well-maintained.
This documentation can be particularly valuable for improvements that aren't immediately visible, such as new insulation or updated electrical systems.
9. You'll Have More Control Over Repairs
When you get a pre-listing inspection, you have the luxury of time to get multiple quotes for any necessary repairs. This allows you to choose reliable contractors at competitive prices, rather than being forced to rush repairs under the pressure of a closing deadline. You can also decide which repairs are worth making and which might be better handled through price negotiations.
10. You Can Prevent Insurance Issues
Some insurance companies may be hesitant to provide coverage for homes with certain issues or may charge higher premiums. By identifying and addressing potential problems before listing, you can help ensure that buyers won't face insurance-related obstacles during the purchasing process, which could otherwise delay or derail the sale.
Ready to Get Your Pre-Listing Home Inspection?
Don't let unexpected issues derail your home sale! Team Pinto has helped hundreds of Waterloo Region homeowners successfully navigate the pre-listing inspection process and achieve better sales outcomes.
As your local real estate experts, we can connect you with trusted, professional home inspectors who know our region's housing stock inside and out.
Contact Team Pinto today at (519) 818-5445, aron@teampinto.com or visit www.teampinto.com to learn more about how we can help you prepare your home for a successful sale. Let's work together to make your home selling experience as smooth and profitable as possible!