JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
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Re: Home inspection prior to selling
I don't know that it would matter because the buyers are going to choose their own home inspector anyway who might pick up on what other inspectors may have missed... but get that you are concerned on what may pop up.
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Re: Home inspection prior to selling
I never recommend it.
The buyers will do their own home inspection no matter what, and the home inspectors ALWAYS find something to point out, no matter what, no matter how minor. I mean, they do have to "earn their fee," so to speak, and prepare a thorough report. A lot of what a home inspector points out is normal wear and tear on a home (the age of certain items/systems) and recommended upgrades and "best practices" for maintenance. So they will point these things out no matter what. It doesn't necessarily mean you as an owner have to do anything about them.
If there is something that you know is in need of repair (e.g., you have a leak somewhere) or that will definitely come up (e.g., you have termites), then of course it is wise to address it prior to putting your house on the market. Even minor repairs -- tightening loose hand rails, putting on outlet plates, etc. -- are important, as you want to give the overall impression of a well-maintained house.
Honestly, if you want to do something that will help sell the home and give buyers additional assurance that your house is a good investment, consider getting a home warranty that is transferrable to the buyers at closing. You can get a basic one for about the same cost of a home inspection (i.e., $400-500), and they cover a lot of repairs for major systems of the house for one year. So that gives buyers peace of mind that you have been maintaining the house and that they won't have to spend $$$ in the first year if something should break. There are a few popular home warranty companies, such as AHS. But your real estate agent should be able to provide more info.
Not sure that either is necessary - I think it depends on your home and the circumstances. But if you were my client, I'd advise you to invest in the warrant before the pre-listing inspection.
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