In a typical real estate transaction it is the buyer that orders and pays for the home inspection. However, sellers can have their property inspected before the house ever hits the market. A pre-inspection provides the seller with information regarding the condition of their home. But is it a good idea for a seller to do an inspection before their home goes on the market? Before you schedule your pre-inspection, here are three things to consider.

Disclose, disclose, disclose

1. Once you know about it you have disclose it. The old real estate proverb is “when in doubt, disclose, disclose, disclose.” A pre-inspection can expand what you know and what you have to disclose. Let’s say you have a water stain on your ceiling. You have never been in your attic and will not go there. But your inspector does go in your attic and discovers that your stain on the ceiling is due to a roof leak. Now you need to disclose a stain your ceiling and a roof leak. Do you wish you did not know, or are you happy that you know you need to have work done on the roof?
2. The buyer will more than likely get their own inspection. Just because you have had an inspection, does not mean that the buyer will not hire their own inspector. That means another inspector who may see something that your inspector did not see. The buyers inspector may not interpret the same information differently. So a pre-inspection may reduce surprises. However, the buyer’s inspection may uncover other issues.
3. Once you have received the inspection report you may feel some pressure to start fixing things and do more than you need. With a pre-inspection in hand there is the temptation to fix all of the issues that the inspector found before your home hits the market. That is certainly not necessary and probably not wise. Most buyers are fine with cosmetic flaws or aging systems if they are reflected in the price or covered by a home warranty. Most of the time it is in your best interest to disclose and let the buyer do their own inspection. Then determine what the buyer feels needs to be addressed.

Consult with your agent before making a decision

There is no one size fits all answer about whether you should or should not do a pre-inspection. It really depends on your home and your personal situation. Before you schedule any inspections or completely skip them, have a candid conversation with your real estate agent on what is best given your situation. Your agent can help you weigh the pros and cons based on market conditions and your home. If you decide to get an inspection have your agent recommend an inspector. Not all inspectors are good. Your agent more than likely has experience working with the good ones. Remember to follow your agents lead on what makes sense in todays market.