Should I Pre-Inspect My House Before Selling?

By Laura Melquist

Meet Laura Melquist, a Realtor whose journey from Division 1 basketball to real estate has been nothing short of inspiring. With a winning mindset cultivated on the court, Laura has translated this into real estate by being a negotiation expert, navigating the real estate market for both sellers and buyers.

One of the most common questions I receive lately is, “Why are so many homes falling out of contract in our market?”.

The reality is that the current market environment presents more challenges, and we’re witnessing a higher fallout rate of contracts. Approximately 35% of properties that go under contract are being terminated and returned to the market as active listings. For perspective, the fallout rate from 2013 to 2019 was around 15%, and during the pandemic years of 2020 to mid-2022, it was just 9-10%.

One of the most common reasons is at the inspection stage, where buyers and sellers can’t agree on repairs, or buyers decide they don’t want to take on the project themselves. Sellers would benefit from a pre-inspection to identify and correct major issues before listing, which could prevent this sticking point.

That being said, you can still sell quickly in this market; you just need to put in a little work. That’s why I always recommend my sellers do a pre-listing inspection if they want to spend as little time on market as possible. Here are three key benefits of pre-inspecting your home:

1. You can hit the market with a clean product. The bottom line is that homes in better condition sell faster and for more money. Think about your pre-inspection like certifying a used car. Certified cars are a more desirable product, so people will be willing to pay more money faster. On the other hand, buyers will try to draw things out and get every opportunity in negotiations if your house is an unknown quantity.

2. You can fix major issues before hitting the market. A pre-inspection will help you find any “dealbreakers” you need to take care of ahead of time, which will protect your sale.

3. Pre-inspections give you leverage at negotiations. When you have a better product, you can ask for more concessions. Whether you want a quick sale, more money, or better terms, you need leverage to get what you want. One of the worst things that can happen during negotiations is for your buyer to use repairs as a negotiating point. By addressing issues upfront and creating more demand for your home, you can go into negotiations with a stronger position and get what you really want.

Hopefully, you understand why pre-inspections are so important. If you want to sit down for a pre-listing consultation, just call or email me. It’s 100% free, and there’s no obligation to hire with me if things don’t work out or you change your mind about selling. I look forward to hearing from you!