Should Sellers Pay for a Pre-Listing Home Inspection?

Preparing to put your home on the market? If you’re looking to dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s before listing a house, then you may want to consider arranging for pre-listing home inspection. As anyone who’s sold a house knows, the inspection of your house can make or break a home sale. Most often, homebuyers make the sale contingent on the home’s inspection. Not only does an inspection give buyers a clear picture of what they’re purchasing, but it may also give them leverage when it comes to renegotiating the sales price. For instance, if the inspection finds something wrong with the home that the buyers deem unacceptable, then they may be able to get the sellers to agree to a lower purchase price before closing. Oftentimes, sellers end up paying for repairs and making concessions in order to ensure that the sale goes through.

For sellers, who wish to avoid any unwelcome surprises (and possible expenses) in the inspection report, it might be helpful to consider paying for a pre-listing home inspection prior to selling their house. A pre-listing home inspection is an inspection arranged by the seller and conducted by a certified inspector that is completed before the home is listed for sale. Ultimately, this inspection could end up saving the seller from having to lower their price. For more information on the benefits and downsides of paying for a pre-listing home inspection, read our Q&A below.

What is a pre-listing home inspection?

A pre-listing home inspection is simply a home inspection that is paid for by the sellers and performed prior to putting a home on the market. A home inspection typically gives the seller (or buyer) information about the home’s overall condition as well as the condition of individual systems within the home. If you decide to order a pre-listing home inspection, you’ll likely see information about the condition of the home’s roof, exterior, garage, interior, structural components, plumbing system, electrical system, heating/ central air conditioning system, insulation and ventilation, appliances, lawn sprinklers, swimming pools and overall safety – just to name a few. An inspection could last anywhere from an hour to several hours, depending on the size of the home and the thoroughness of the inspector.

How much does a home inspection cost?

According to HomeAdvisor, the average home inspection costs around $315 and ranges from $278 to $399. The website points out that while inspections of small homes and condos under 1,000 square feet only cost around $200, inspections of larger homes can run $400 or more. You may have to pay extra for mold and Radon testing. Having the house inspected for pests will likely cost extra as well, and you may need to hire a separate pest control service to conduct the inspection.

What are the benefits of conducting a pre-listing home inspection?

For many sellers, conducting a pre-listing home inspection is worth the money. Here are a few benefits to having a home inspection prior to listing your home.

There will be fewer surprises during the buyer’s inspection

It might prevent buyers from renegotiating the sales price

You’ll have more confidence in your listing price

What are the downsides to paying for a pre-inspection

Not every seller is willing to spend time and money on a home inspection prior to putting their home on the market. Here are a few downsides to paying for a pre-listing home inspection.

It costs money

Different certified inspectors have different inspection styles

It brings all the problems with your home to light

Bottom line: The decision to pay for a pre-listing home inspection ultimately comes down to your estimated return on investment. The smaller the home, the less the inspection will cost. If you predict that your home has underlying problems that could cause issues with buyers, then it might be worth it to pay for a pre-listing home inspection. That being said, if the home is in poor condition – or is a self-described “tear down” – and buyers are planning to renovate or redo the home anyway, then don’t waste the money on a pre-listing home inspection.

How else can you prepare for putting your home on the market?

In addition to a pre-listing home inspection, here are a few other ways you can prepare for putting your home on the market:

Enlist cleaners to do a deep clean of the home
Hire a seasoned and trustworthy Realtor
Research nearby comps and your local housing market before pricing the home.
Make a list of all additions, renovations, upgrades and changes you’ve made to the home since purchasing it.
Declutter, depersonalize and stage the home for pictures and showings
Paint the walls a neutral color
Call a handyman to make any necessary repairs before listing the home

Ready to move?

So, your home passed an inspection with flying colors, and the sale went through without a hitch. Congratulations! Now it’s time to start planning that move. To help make your upcoming move easier, we recommend hiring professionals to handle the heavy lifting. Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to book the best moving company for the job. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!