So you’re ready to list your home for sale and move into the next chapter of your life; that’s exciting. But how do you ensure that the process goes smoothly once you’ve accepted an offer?

After all, even if you get a contract for your full asking price, you’ll still need to pass inspection and prepare for any final contractual adjustments or changes that may arise.

Whether you are the home buyer or seller, having an inspection done is a critical part of the process, and the suspense of it all can be reasonably unnerving for both parties. Luckily, as the seller, there is a way you can take some of that pressure out of the equation, saving you time and frustration; and who doesn’t want that when selling their home?

Let’s discuss a bit further –

What to Expect from a Home Inspection

The home inspection process is intended to help ensure a legal, honest, and fully informed purchase.

Although all home inspectors and state requirements are different, you should expect a fairly in-depth review of your home’s history, current condition, and any possible concerns.

Here is a general overview of what a home inspection will cover:

• The age and condition of your home’s HVAC system
• Plumbing equipment and function
• The age and condition of your roof and all of its components
• The condition of your attic, insulation, and ventilation
• Electrical work and overall efficiency
• Structural factors and concerns; including the foundation
• Any safety/security concerns
• Chimney conditions
• Home exterior

Throughout the inspection process, it is essential to understand that no home is perfect, and there will be aspects listed and/or reported on that you may want to review and address.

Otherwise, this is the part of the home selling process where your potential home buyer will review the report and may or may not request repairs, concessions, or even a price reduction based on the inspector’s findings.

At this point, both parties will have to either come to an agreement or dissolve their contract.

Sounds stressful, right? Luckily, there’s a better way –

Have a Pre-Inspection Done on Your Home

Although you will have to pay a little more upfront, having a pre-inspection done on your home is well worth the trouble for many reasons, most of which include –

Upfront knowledge & Peace of Mind: Having a pre-inspection done on your home gives you an inside look into what you can expect from the final home inspection so that you aren’t blindsided with surprise hurdles. Knowing what you’re dealing with ahead of time will allow you to manage expectations and negotiations much more easily. The more surprises you can eliminate between accepting an offer and closing, the better!

Time to Evaluate & Adjust: Once your pre-inspection is complete, you will have a detailed list of every aspect of your home that may need to be evaluated and addressed. This is your opportunity to perform repairs or replacements where necessary (if you choose to) and prepare for any concerns you may need to deal with later on from your potential buyer.

Pre-Inspections create a Sense of Trust & Solidarity: Having a pre-inspection done on your home not only offers you peace of mind but also creates a sense of trust and confidence for your potential buyer as well. A pre-inspection shows that you have nothing to hide and that you are completely open and forthcoming about every aspect of the home, which a buyer will greatly appreciate.

Partnering with an Expert to Sell Your home

Although there will always be some stresses involved, selling your home is an exciting time.

Throughout the process, you will learn a lot about yourself as a homeowner as well as how the whole process generally works, which will prepare you for any of your future real estate ventures.

Aside from having a pre-inspection done, if you are getting ready to sell your home, be sure to hire a professional real estate agent to guide you through the process and advise you.

At Key Realtors, we help our clients sell their homes with pride and confidence; give us a call today at 281-454-4500!