Prelisting Inspection

It has been suggested that I hire a home inspector to conduct a prelisting inspection on my home. Is this a good idea and why?

As a longtime home inspector servicing the greater Jacksonville area real estate market, my answer is a resounding, yes.  And there are many reasons why a prelisting inspection benefits both the property seller and the buyer.

A prelisting inspection is typically a standard home inspection conducted for the property owner. The purpose of this inspection is to identify any significant issue in the home.  

The inspection should cover all the standard inspected items from; structure, exterior wall cladding, windows and doors, fascia and soffit, roofing and flashings, chimney and fireplaces, heating and cooling, potable water and sanitary waste piping, water heater, electrical components, kitchen appliances, bathrooms and related fixtures and a room by room review.

The inspector can also provide additional services to include swimming pools, irrigation systems, termite inspection, etc.  

Once you have the inspection report you now have several choices. You could choose to repair all the items on the inspector’s inspection report, choose to only repair those items that are considered major repair items (those could be deficiencies in the major systems of the home), or simply price the home accordingly.

Should you choose to make repairs, keep all your receipts/work orders. Leave the inspection report out in the open for any showings. 

The future buyers will get the opportunity to see that you have nothing to hide, the home has been inspected, and has been repaired or priced accordingly.  This means a smoother process to an eventual closing. And that’s a good thing.