Gary Dwyer's Real Estate Blog: Why Should A Seller Should Have A Home Inspection Before They List Their Home?

First of all, I am not in the business of selling home inspections.  As Broker / Owner of Buyer Agents of Boston, an exclusive buyer agency real estate firm, most of my clients choose to have a home inspection done after their offer to purchase has been accepted. 

It provides a good opportunity for them to find out a bit more about their new home, tips on how to maintain it, and knowledge about any serious issues that may influence their desire to move forward with the deal or request repairs be made by the seller or adjustments made to the purchase price.

During the inspection, the buyer (often a first-time buyer who won't have a lot of extra money left over after the closing) can get very nervous about "what's wrong with the property" - sometimes there are major issues.  However, many times the number of items that the inspector identifies as needing attention, repair, near-term replacement, adjustment, etc. become so overwhelming that the buyer either wants to completely back out of the deal or envisions tens of thousands of dollars worth of repairs.

Sometimes the results of the inspection can initiate a conversation between buyer and seller about repairs required prior to closing or a seller credit or adjustment to the price. Other times, it just signals the end of the deal and the home search process resumes.

But the home inspection process is not just for buyers.  I think it can be a valuable tool for home sellers also.  It provides a good opportunity for the seller to know what is wrong with the house before it goes on the market and take action before a deal can fall apart.  Sellers can shop around for the best prices to get repairs made before it becomes a crisis situation. 

Simple repairs that are noted in an inspection report such as tightening up door knobs, light plates, railings, replacing defective GFIC receptacles, cleaning gutters and downspouts, repairing leaky faucets, caulking around tubs / sinks, servicing HVAC equipment can give a buyer a bit more confidence that the property they are buying has been maintained. 

It is also not just for single-family sellers.  If you are selling a condo in a building where many of the systems are owned by individual owners and not the condo assn (i.e. separate HVAC systems, water heaters, washer / dryers), it can provide you with the punch list of what needs to be done not only within the unit, but also common area issues that can kill the deal.