A prelisting home inspection is the same as a home inspection done for a buyer. It is a limited visual inspection of the components of the home and results in a written home inspection report. However, a prelisting inspection has the benefit of time. Conditions found can be addressed on the seller’s timetable without the stress of a closing date. The following are some of the other benefits of a prelisting inspection.
A prelisting inspection can identify an unknown condition prior to the time a sales agreement is written. This reduces the chances of a buyer re‐opening negotiations or terminating a sales agreement if a “surprise” condition is identified during a buyer initiated home inspection.
A prelisting inspection allows the seller to have the option to make repairs or not. As an example, if the inspector discovered that an animal had entered the crawl space under the home and pulled down the subfloor insulation in many areas, the seller can choose not to repair this condition. It is assumed that this condition was considered when the sell price of the home was determined. In other words, we know that this home has the following condition, the price of the home is X.
The prelisting inspection is the ultimate disclosure statement. A disinterested third party licensed by the State of Oregon was hired to examine the components of the home and prepare a written report. This information eliminates the mistrust that some buyers may have of the seller in that the seller might be trying to hide something. If a home has been well cared for and maintained a pre‐sale inspection report will confirm this.