A seller should always consider paying to have a property inspected by a professional home inspector before putting the house on the market.  A home inspection report gives the seller advance warning of any potential problems and also allows the seller to deal with these problems positively and pro-actively before getting into negotiations with serious potential buyers.

Here are 3 reasons why a pre-inspection report is a good idea for you the seller.

1.  It shows that you have nothing to hide.  A pre-inspection demonstrates a willingness by the seller to go beyond what’s expected, and this sets you apart from other competing sellers. A house inspection report, which is made available to all serious potential buyers, is a signal that your house is an “open book,” and that you’re being upfront about the property. All of this can give potential buyers peace of mind and confidence.
2.  Paying for a home inspection upfront can actually save you, the seller, money in the long run.  A pre-inspection report gives the seller and the estate agent advance warning if there are problems that a potential buyer may want repaired. Once the seller knows what’s wrong, then these issues can usually be sorted out before listing. The more problem-free the house is, the faster it’s likely to sell. A pre-inspection also enables buyers to factor, into the offer to purchase, the cost of any necessary repairs. HouseCheck reports routinely provide estimates of repair costs.   And by disclosing all known issues upfront, the seller and the agent are also protecting themselves against later claims from the buyer.  Without a sellers pre-inspection, if the buyer’s inspector discovers problems after the offer has been signed,  then the buyer will probably try to negotiate a lower price.  This could involve the seller with unexpected costs and could also delay the sale. The buyer might even cancel the sales agreement.
3. Apart from documenting observed defects a HouseCheck report also highlights your home’s features and assets,  Assuming there are no serious defects uncovered in the pre-inspection report, then this HouseCheck document becomes a positive sales tool in the hands of your agent.  Apart from reporting on observed defects, HouseCheck also documents all of the positive features of a property – such as the extent of the accommodation (HouseCheck provides pictures of all of the rooms in the report), security features (automatic gates, electric fences, burglar alarms and burglar bars) and entertainment features (such as lapas, pools and so on). A HouseCheck report provides the buyer with a document which will help separate your home in the buyer’s mind from other competing properties.

When not to have a pre-inspection.  If you’re trying to offload a wreck which needs plenty of work, then there’s no point in the seller paying for a pre-inspection report. But if you’ve maintained your home and want to sell it as quickly, and as profitably, as possible, then a pre-inspection commissioned by the seller is almost always a good idea.