Selling a home is not easy for buyers and sellers. Sellers will sell their house for more money and convince buyers that it is worth more.

Buyers will respond by listing other homes in similar condition that sold for the same price but in better conditions. Both sides will exchange counteroffers and offers until they reach an agreement on a price.

Once the negotiations reach this stage, something exciting happens. The buyer understands that they can’t pay more than the agreed price for the home, no matter what happens. They may end up paying less.

Contrary to popular belief, the buyer may not receive the exact amount he/she agreed upon with the seller even though they have reached an agreement on a price. Negotiations may be reopened, but the seller will need to accept a lower price from the buyer.

How is that possible?

The home inspection makes it possible. A home inspection is now a mandatory part of home buying. Innovative Property Solutions notes that buyers often include a clause in their purchase agreement which allows them to terminate the agreement based upon the inspection report.

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a thorough assessment of every part of a house that is up for sale. A buyer usually orders a home inspection to discover any problems that may be hidden by the seller. It serves the primary purpose of protecting the buyer’s interests.

All areas of the house are subject to inspection. The inspection examines the structure of the house (foundations, walls and basements, roofing, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems), as well as all appliances. The inspection report can be reacted to in three ways.

• The buyer can determine that the house is satisfactory based on the inspection report. The buyer would then have no reason to negotiate and must purchase the house at the agreed price. This is the best outcome for the seller.
• Buyers may decide to sell if there are too many problems in the house. The buyer may decide to end the agreement if they feel the problems are too serious or costly to resolve.
• There is also a middle option where buyers may decide that even though the home has serious problems, they can fix them. They may ask the seller for a lower price in order to pay the costs of fixing the house.

The home inspection will reduce the property’s worth if the buyer chooses this option. This outcome can only be achieved if the seller does not take adequate precautions to ensure that the home inspection by the buyer does not affect the sale price of the home.

How can sellers stop the home inspector from affecting their home’s value?

Trust and a complete knowledge about the home are two of the most important qualities sellers can bring when they negotiate with buyers. Sellers can inspire confidence in buyers by knowing more about the condition of their home. This will increase their negotiating power.

A pre-listing inspection is the only way for sellers to find out the true condition of their house. The pre-listing inspection is exactly the same as the buyer’s home inspection. Only the difference is that the seller orders it before the property goes on the market. It arrives even before the seller has set their home’s price.

What is the purpose of the pre-listing inspection for a seller

• This gives them complete information about their home and helps to avoid any surprises from the seller’s home inspection.
• It allows sellers to choose the renovations or repairs that will make the house more valuable.
• It creates trust and facilitates smoother negotiation by requiring the seller to disclose the inspection report.
• It also reduces the buyer’s home inspection to a formality, since the seller’s inspection report already informs the buyer about the condition of the home.

A pre-listing inspection can help sellers feel more confident about entering into sales negotiations. They feel confident about their home’s condition. They have the facts to support their asking price. They won’t be nervous during the home hnspector in Honolulu HI doing home inspection phase.