Home Inspections

Any certified home inspector can perform a pre-listing home inspection, provided that the homeowner make a few basic accommodations. As a homeowner, you can start by making sure that power, water, and gas will be turned on at the home while the inspector will be performing his or her evaluation. Next, try to clear the space around items such as kitchen appliances, the water heater, and the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioner. These items are all examined separately as part of many home inspections, and the home inspector will need clear access to these items in order to see them and check that they are working properly. Also, make sure that all doors and windows are accessible, as well as any indoor and outdoor staircases. Generally, these accommodations would be required by your realtor during the pre-listing phase of selling a house, so getting a home ready for the inspector should not require a lot of extra effort.

A homeowner and the realtor can and should be present during inspections, but many home inspectors can also perform pre-listing inspections without anyone present. During pre-listing inspections, a home inspector will examine the same items that he or she would during pre-purchase inspections. A good inspector will check the home's appliances to see if they are functioning properly, as well as items like the air conditioner and water heater. The structure of the house will be examined for signs that the foundation, electrical systems, and plumbing is in good condition. Any damage to these items will be noted in the written inspection report. Once the pre-listing inspection is complete, a homeowner will know what issues need to be addressed before selling the home. Small items can be fixed, and larger items will be known about before a potential buyer sets foot in the house.

Many home sellers are concerned that pre-listing inspections will reveal flaws in their home that they will be obligated to disclose during a sale. In actuality, however, the majority of pre-listing inspections only turn up minor flaws in homes that can be easily corrected. In the rare case that a pre-listing inspection lists a major item to be repaired, it is important to keep in mind that the pre-purchase inspection that the potential buyer would pay for would discover the same problem. At that point, however, a buyer could use the information to walk away from the sale. In most cases, pre-listing inspections turn out to be a great selling point for the homeowner.

By providing a report from a neutral third party attesting to the condition of the home, a homeowner is able to provide something that many other houses on the market will not have. The home inspection report can also be given to home appraisers and the mortgage company of the buyer's bank. By having this report, home appraisers are able to make a quicker and more accurate appraisal of the home, and potential buyers can feel confident that the house was inspected by a third party certified home inspector.

For more information about Pre-Listing Home Inspections, visit http://www.fsginspections.com/services/pre-listing-home-inspections/