Everything You Need to Know about Getting Your Home Inspected Before Selling

Many homeowners will order a home inspection before selling. Others don’t feel like this is a necessary step, and they choose to skip a presale inspection. Perhaps you’re thinking about selling your home, and you’re on the fence about whether or not you should get a home inspection before selling. This article will explain the pros and cons of either approach in an attempt to help you make the best possible decision.

Once you know that your home needs certain repairs, you can go ahead and make them before you put the house on the market. This will save you from having to renegotiate the deal with the buyer after you have already signed an initial contract to sell your home. They may ask you to make the repair or lower your asking price if the damage shows up on their own inspection report.

Perhaps you don’t want to spend the money out of pocket to make the repair yourself, but you know that it may cause an issue if it comes up on the buyer’s inspection report after the home goes under contract. In this case, you could lower your asking price and disclose the condition of your home to any prospective buyers. You won’t be able to make as much money on your home, but you’ll put money back into your own pocket, and you’ll save yourself from the potential of a deal falling apart once the buyer learns about the condition of the home.

If you choose to get your own home inspection before you put your home on the market, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Inspection costs can vary depending on the size and age of your home. You’ll also pay more if you require a specialized inspection because of certain fixtures and elements of your home. Generally, you can expect to spend between $300 and $1,000 for a home inspection, although it varies based on the size and age of the home. You may find a better price by giving yourself time to shop around from different providers to see who can offer you the best deal.

A home inspection can take several hours, and you’ll want to be around for the duration of the project. You’ll have to make sure you clear your schedule and set aside enough time to be present in the home.

Nobody wants to discover that their home needs costly repairs such as foundation piers or a new roof, and this is certainly one of the drawbacks of ordering an inspection before you sell. At the same time, ignoring these issues won’t make them go away. You would rather learn about what’s going on before you start thinking about selling your home. This gives you a chance to make the necessary repairs or adjust your expectations about what you could make when you sell your home.

Most people find that the benefits of ordering a home inspection before they sell outweigh the costs. They realize that knowledge is power, and they appreciate the opportunity to better prepare their home for a quick and profitable sale before they officially put it on the market.

You can start by researching home inspection companies in your area. Our team can also recommend some of the great companies we’ve worked with over the years. Make sure you read reviews from past customers to get a better idea of the kind of experience that people have had when working with this company. Once you narrow your options down to two or three companies, reach out to them directly to ask about scheduling and fees. This is also a good time to ask any questions you may have about their experience and qualifications. After you feel confident about the inspector that you’re hiring, you can schedule a time for them to come and look at your home. Remember that inspections can take several hours, and you’ll want to be around when the inspector comes to your home. This way, you can go over the report with them afterward and ask any questions that come up based on what they tell you about your home.

There are no repairs that are legally required after a home inspection. However, the inspector may strongly recommend making certain repairs because of how they could impact the structural or foundational integrity of your home in the short-term and long-term future. You don’t want to ignore major foundation damage or significant plumbing issues once you find out that they are present. They will only get worse over time.

You can prepare for an inspection by cleaning and organizing your home. This will make it easier for the inspector to look over the property and see each important area. If you already know that your home needs a repair or two, you can go ahead and complete these projects before the inspection. You may also want to compile any important documents you have regarding home warranties or appliances. This includes any past records of renovations or repairs.

Robyn Phipps and team understand why many sellers feel it’s important to get a home inspection before selling. We’ve developed a reputation as one of the top-performing teams in the Arvada and Northwest Denver areas, and we’ve helped many sellers receive better offers for their homes in the past. We take the necessary time to further explain the benefits and drawbacks of getting a home inspection before selling so that you feel fully confident about the decision that you’re making. Reach out to Robyn and The Phipps Team when you’re ready to move forward with your home sale or if you have additional questions!