The Agents Perspective: Pre-Listing Home Inspections

In my previous post, I discussed the advantages of pre-listing inspections for sellers. However, it’s essential to recognize that agents also benefit significantly from this proactive approach.

Recently, I encountered a home in a state of disrepair. The stained carpets, scuffed walls, and unpleasant odors left an indelible mark. As an agent, I couldn’t help but associate the hAs mentioned before, this could all have been  avoided with a little investment upfront. Instead of potential buyers turning away, the home could have been sold promptly. Even if the seller realizes their mistake, those initial impressions linger, and opportunities are lost for all stakeholders involved. 

Advantages to a pre-listing home inspection for the Agent.

• Sellers can schedule the inspections at sellers convenience, with little effort on the part of agents.
• Sellers can assist inspectors during the inspections, something normally not done during buyer’s inspections.
• The reports help sellers see their homes through the eyes of a critical third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about asking price.
• Agents are alerted to any immediate safety issues found, before other agents and potential buyers tour the home.
• Repairs made ahead of time might make homes show better.
• Reports hosted online entice potential buyers to tour the homes.
• The pre-listing reports provide third-party, unbiased opinions to offer to potential buyers.
• Clean reports can be used as marketing tools to help sell the homes.
• The reports might relieve prospective buyers' unfounded suspicions, before they walk away.
• Pre-listing home inspections eliminate "buyer's remorse" that sometimes occurs just after an inspection.
• Pre-listing home inspections reduce the need for negotiations and 11th-hour re-negotiations.
• Pre-listing home inspections relieve the agent of having to hurriedly procure repair estimates or schedule repairs.
• The reports might encourage buyers to waive their inspection contingencies.
• Deals are less likely to fall apart, the way they often do, when buyer's inspections unexpectedly reveal last-minute problems.
• Reports provide full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.

In summary, agents play a pivotal role in guiding sellers toward successful transactions. Prioritizing pre-listing inspections benefits everyone involved—sellers, agents, and buyers alike.