If you’re looking for a beautiful, vibrant, and financially sensible place to live, California is sure to be on your list – perhaps even at the top – as it certainly ticks all those boxes. That’s great for sellers as they’re going to have the upper hand, but only if their property is priced well, is suitable to live in, and stands out from the crowd (and it’s a big old crowd).
One great way to ensure you’re able to stand out when you want to sell a property in California is to have a pre-listing home inspection carried out. Let’s take a better look at what that is and why it’s a good idea when you want to sell your home (and why it’s something you should be looking for when you want to buy one).
A pre-listing home inspection is an assessment conducted by a professional inspector before a home is put on the market to sell, and the goal behind the inspection is to uncover any potential issues that might cause a problem when it comes to actually selling the house.
You might wonder why it’s so important when you can have buyer-initiated inspections carried out once the offer has been made and negotiations are underway, and it’s a great question, but there’s a great answer as well. The fact is that, unlike those inspections, a pre-listing home inspection gives sellers a deeper understanding of the property’s condition before any kind of offer is made, so they can be absolutely sure they’re making the right choice and offering the right price. Plus it helps sellers because they’ll know what needs to be done to ensure a sale, and they can make repairs and changes before potential buyers get to see the house.
A pre-listing home inspection covers a broad range of aspects in a house, including:
This includes the foundations, walls, and roof, and anything else linked to the structure of the building. Inspectors will look for signs of structural damage, like cracks or roofing problems.
Electrics are a big part of the safety and comfort of a home, so it makes sense they should be inspected. The inspection will involve checking the wiring, outlets, and circuit breakers, for example, to ensure they meet the right safety standards and that they’re actually working as they should.
After the electrics, the plumbing is probably the most important element of a home to get right – water damage is no joke. The inspector will check the pipes, fixtures, and water heaters or boilers for leaks and corrosion and make sure they’re properly installed.
In California, a good HVAC system is essential, so these will also be included in the home inspection before selling.
Who wants a hole in their roof? No one, so the roof will also be included in the inspection, from both the outside and inside your home.
So exactly what are the advantages for sellers when it comes to a pre-listing home inspection? There are a number of great reasons to get this inspection organized sooner rather than later, and here are some of them.
One of the best reasons for having a pre-listing home inspection is that you’ll be able to spot any problems early on in the process rather than much later. By identifying problems before you even list the property, you can address them proactively before a seller even has a chance to know about them in most cases, saving you time and money in the long run.
Some of the most common issues found during inspections include leaking roofs, faulty wiring, plumbing leaks, and even structural damage. Some of these are easy (and relatively inexpensive) fixes, so they can be done right away (ideally by a professional – you can then provide proof that the work was not only carried out, but carried out the right way), and some are more extensive issues that you’ll need to think about – is it better to get the work done yourself or lower the selling price of your home so the buyer can do the work, for example? Knowing the information in advance is just one of the many seller inspection advantages you’ll get when you arrange a pre-listing home inspection, and it can make a big difference to how the sale progresses (if it happens at all).
Another benefit of a pre-listing home report is that it can boost buyer confidence in your property, and in you as a seller – when a potential buyer sees that a home has been completely checked out and inspected, and that it’s well-maintained, they’ll have a lot more trust about it and they’ll be reassured that the property is in good condition (or they’ll be aware of the issues in advance and can have a plan in place to tackle them). If you can offer proof of all this via a professional inspection, you’ll have a much better chance of attracting serious buyers who’ll make serious offers, allowing you to sell your home and move on in the way you want to. This is really one of the best pre-listing home inspection benefits you can enjoy, and it can make the entire selling process a much smoother and quicker one, which is always a positive.
Once you’ve got the inspection results and you’ve gone through them thoroughly, you’ll be able to set a realistic price for your property, taking anything that needs to be done into account. By understanding what the true condition of your property is – something you might not have even thought about while you were living there – you can avoid overpricing (which will definitely deter potential buyers, especially if other similar houses are priced more competitively) or underpricing (that’s just as bad as you’ll lose money without even trying).
On top of this, if you’ve got a clear picture of the property’s ultimate condition, it will help when it comes to negotiations and it should ensure you don’t have to deal with any last-minute price drops from the buyer who suddenly notices an issue – they’ll know about everything in advance, so that shouldn’t happen.
Pre-listing inspections can also reduce the risk of the deal falling through entirely, which is certainly something you’ll want to avoid at all costs. When buyers carry out their own inspections and uncover unexpected issues, it can lead to them offering a lower price or pulling out of the sale entirely if the problem isn’t one they’re willing to tackle. If you can address the problems upfront, you’ll minimize the risk of that happening, and streamline the selling process as a result.
As a bonus, this generally also means your home will be on the market for less time. Remember, the longer your property is for sale, the less interest there’s going to be because more and more properties will be listed and yours can get lost. The quicker you sell, the easier it is, and the more money you’ll make in most cases.
Marketing your home is a big job and a crucial one – you can’t just list the place for sale and hope people will come and look at it. That’s why working with a professional real estate agent is such a good idea as they’ll have the means and the knowledge to market your home properly and to the right people, speeding up the chances of finding a good buyer for you.
Something that’s going to help your real estate agent market and then sell your property is having a pre-listing inspection report ready to show any potential buyers. Buyers are going to appreciate the fact that you’ve had the work done, and they’ll like the fact that they can see precisely what condition the property is in before they consider whether or not to make an offer – and what offer to make, come to that.
By using California home inspection tips, sellers are able to make their property a lot more appealing and increase the chances of a fast, hassle-free sale.
Of course, sellers aren’t the only ones who are going to get the benefits from a pre-listing home inspection report – buyers will too.
For buyers, a pre-listing home inspection report gives them complete peace of mind, no matter what the results might be. Yes, it would be ideal if the property got a clean bill of health, but even if there are issues thrown up by the report, knowing about them means the buyer can still feel confident about making an offer – there won’t be any surprises to come across after they move in.
Another advantage for buyers is that the pre-listing home inspection gives them a true and clear understanding of the home’s condition before, rather than after, they make an offer. This transparency can ensure decision-making is easier and more positive, and buyers can be fully aware of exactly what they’re getting into when they’re buying a property.
The fact is that buying a house isn’t always the easiest or most stress-free situation to be in, and some of that stress and worry can come from the fact that you might not be sure you’re making the right decision – you can love a house and want to live there, but is it really something that’s going to work for you? It’s a lot of money to spend on something that turns out to be a mistake, after all. A thorough inspection before you make an offer is ideal, as you can know everything you need to know and be so much happier with your choice.
When there are fewer unexpected issues post-purchase, buyers can feel more secure in their investment, and that’s something a pre-listing inspection can offer. With one of these in place, there’ll be much less chance (or even no chance at all in most cases) of uncovering something after you move in.
Finding significant problems after you’ve bought a property and have started living there is never pleasant, and not only will it be disheartening, but it could be costly and disruptive too – not ideal when you’ve already spent a lot of money moving in the first place and you just want to settle into your new place.
By providing a comprehensive overview of the property’s condition, real estate pre-listing inspections help buyers feel better about the property and sure that there’s nothing nasty lurking in their new home.
In California, the cost of a pre-listing inspection is going to fall somewhere between $300 and $450 approximately – it’s going to depend on the size of the property as well as how old it is as to the exact cost, but you can start to budget using the figures above.
Although you might look at this as an extra expense you could do without when you’re selling your home, the benefits definitely outweigh the cost, especially as having a pre-listing inspection report can mean you can sell for a higher profit (or at the very least not have to worry about low offers).
The best thing to do if you want to have a pre-listing report carried out is to work with professionals and find a qualified and reputable inspector to do it for you. In that way, you’ll know for sure that nothing has been missed, and any buyer who might be interested in your property can see that you’re taking the sale seriously and they’ll get all the information they need to make a decision.
Before the inspection takes place, you’ll need to prepare your home to make it easier for the inspector and to get a glowing report if possible. Make sure that everywhere – including the attic, basement, and any outbuildings – is accessible and clear any clutter away. If you can prepare your home, you’ll be able to help the inspector do their job more efficiently and accurately.
Once you have the report, go through it carefully and decide which issues you can fix before you list the property – the ones you don’t fix will need to be disclosed to the potential buyer, so this is an important decision. It’s often best to deal with the larger issues and leave the smaller ones (unless you can do them all, of course), as that’s a good way to gain trust with the buyer, plus they won’t have to lower their offer too much if they only have to tackle small tasks once they move in.
As we said, any issues that aren’t fixed need to be disclosed – in California, it’s the law. Making sure any potential buyer is aware of the issues means there’s less chance of a legal problem further down the line, and it makes pulling out of the deal by the buyer a lot less likely.
In the end, a pre-listing home inspection offers plenty of benefits to both buyer and seller, including early detection of issues and more informed decision-making. If you’re looking to sell your home, organizing this kind of beneficial report is crucial – it can make a huge difference to the outcome of any sale (and even ensure the sale goes ahead in the first place).
For professional advice and assistance with your pre-listing inspection report, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Premier Property Buyers. Our expertise in getting homes ready for the sales market is unparalleled, and you can trust us to help you through the process from start to finish.
For more information, please follow these links:
Our Promise
Premier Property Buyers is a company that purchases, rehabs, and then sells houses at a profit. Offers are made to sellers based on market value and repairs needed. Premier Property Buyers, will do everything possible to bring forth the highest possible offer to give the seller the most benefit from dealing with a fast sale. In addition, we are licensed real estate agents and can either buy your house for cash or help you sell the more traditional route. DRE Lic# 01918543.
Site Design | Digital Marketing | SEO
Prime Client Marketing
Links
Contact
Please submit your property information below now to receive a fair all cash offer.
Trusted By Southern California Homeowners
