Why You Need a Pre-Listing Inspection

Why You Need a Pre-Listing Inspection

Negotiate on Your Terms

Pre-listing inspections have become more common in recent years, and it is easy to understand why. You can keep control of the negotiations by getting ahead of the buyer’s inspection. But there is an understandable fear that the inspection report might “major on the minors” or make an otherwise perfectly suitable home look unflattering. It is the Home Inspector’s job to find defects after all.

A 5-Point Inspection allows you to have your cake and eat it, too. Here’s how it works…

The 5-Point Inspection

We perform a limited-scope inspection, only checking for material defects in the 5 areas that most impact a sale. This includes:

1. Roof

We inspect the roof for any material defects and report whether it has reached its life expectancy.

2. Structure

We will check the structural components of the house, including the attic, flooring, and foundation. 

3. Mechanical Systems

We inspect the electrical panel, HVAC, and water heater. As in a typical inspection on these items, we will report their age and note whether they have reached their expected lifespan.

4. Moisture Intrusion

We inspect the building for places where moisture can get in. This includes things like roof penetrations, loose siding, poor drainage. We also check for active plumbing leaks.

5. Safety Concerns

We will identify whether any safety concerns exist, such as rotten deck posts or a lack of GFCI outlets.

A material defect is “A specific issue with a system or component of a residential property that may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or that poses an unreasonable risk to people. The fact that a system or component is near, at, or beyond the end of its normal, useful life is not, in itself, a material defect.”

(See InterNACHI Standards of Practice)

Show Your Worth

If your listing has no major defects, then our report essentially advertises your listing for itself! By showing potential buyers that you had so much confidence in your listing that you hired a third-party inspector to write an unbiased report, then you demonstrate that you are dealing in good faith. Trust is one of the most important factors in closing a deal. You cannot effectively sell something that you do not believe in. Prove to your buyers that you believe in the property and they will be more likely to trust your valuation. A few hundred dollars for a 5-Point Inspection could mean thousands in return.

Turn a Defect Into an Advantage

But what happens if our report shows major defects?

All the more reason to get a 5-Point Inspection. When the buyers have their inspection performed, these defects will be revealed no matter what. As the seller, it is better to get ahead of things by having the inspection done on your end. Be proactive, not reactive. This gives you time to get repair prices and avoids last-minute negotiations and delays. If a 5-Point Inspection reveals significant defects, your clients have one of two options if they want to keep their position at the negotiating table:

  1. Repair the defects and save the buyers any hassle, thereby increasing the home’s value, OR
  2. Disclose the defects and lead the negotiations on their terms

Either way, a 5-Point Pre-Listing Inspection pays for itself.

A 5-Point Inspection from Flash Home Inspections starts at only $300 and it even includes a floor plan of the property which you can include with your listing photos! What’s more, we will perform a full residential inspection on the property at a discounted rate for your buyers if they choose us for their home inspection.

Your buyers will love you!

Add Value with a 5-Point Pre-Listing Inspection

Get your 5-Point Pre-Listing Inspection to save money and make money at the same time!