When selling a home, most buyers will request repairs as part of a contingency negotiation. If major issues are discovered by the buyer's inspector late in the process, you may be forced to pay a premium for expedited repairs to meet a closing deadline. By identifying these issues early through an OSHI Inspection, you can obtain competitive bids without time pressure, potentially saving significant money on necessary maintenance.
Strategic Planning with Your Realtor
The findings of a pre-listing inspection allow you to consult with your Realtor to prioritize repairs strategically. This helps determine:
Which repairs are essential to ensure a smooth transaction.
Which improvements will most effectively reduce the likelihood of buyer contingencies.
Which findings are unlikely to induce a renegotiation of the sale price.
2Pre-Listing Inspections for the Seller
Using the proper technique, this moss can be removed, prolonging the life of the roof, improving curb appeal and keeping an item off the buyers home inspectors list.
Common Repair Contingencies
A pre-listing inspection provides a "head start" on the most frequent reasons for negotiation, such as:
Major Systems: Roof leaks or roofing beyond its functional life; non-functional or aging HVAC equipment; and plumbing failures, including crushed sewer lines or Polybutylene supply piping.
Structure & Safety: Foundation cracks, structural deterioration, and the presence of environmental hazards like asbestos, lead, mold, or radon.
Electrical & Safety Devices: Outdated electrical panels or specific observations such as two-prong receptacles, reverse polarity, open grounds, and missing or non-functional GFCI outlets, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms.
Additional Safety Considerations: Other safety issues such as trip hazards, a lack of stair handrails, and non-fire-rated doors may also need to be addressed before being reported by a buyer's inspector.
By addressing these observations early, you maintain greater control over the sale process and the final net proceeds from your home.
Keep these findings off of the Buyers Home Inspection Report by preemptively addressing concerns like mold, simple plumbing fixes and the gently cleaning the roof of moss:
Clever as it was, rubber bands are not a permanent solution to a dripping faucet. Recommend replacing the faulty valve.
Mold on roof rafters resulting from water infiltration. Recommend considering remediation before listing.