Navigating the strange waters of real estate is no easy task. There is no shortage of things that need to be done before the selling process. However, there is one thing that you can remove from your house selling checklist- getting a house inspection.
Do I need to get the house inspected before selling? NO, usually the buyer is going to get an inspection from someone they know and trust. Getting a house inspection might sound like a good way to cover all the bases before listing your property, however, in many cases, it is little more than a waste of time, money, and effort. Especially, for sellers who want to expedite the selling process as much as possible and are happy with selling their house as-is.
Why is a Home Inspection Unnecessary?
Getting a home inspection is little more than a waste of time and money for those homeowners who do not want to be bogged down by the technicalities and who just want to sell the house. For them, it is better to just let a professional handle the matter. After all, hiring a home inspector, fixing the issues, and making your house more marketable is not an easy task.
Moreover, after getting the house inspection, you would be legally bound to declare any issues that might have been found during the inspection or face legal proceedings. It sure is a time-consuming process, which isn’t very budget friendly either and would make it harder to sell your house.
Moreover, the little benefits you stand to gain from a home inspection such as the improved value of the house, increased marketability, or a smoother house selling experience can also be achieved by simply selling your property to someone who has no qualms in buying it as-is.
In other words, getting a home inspection is a sure shot way to achieve some benefits that can easily be achieved by other means, and that too without having to worry about the nitty gritties or having to make a substantial dent in your bank balance.
The Pros and Cons
The benefits of getting a home inspection look pretty straightforward. By getting a home inspection done before you sell your house, you get a clearer picture of the condition that your house is in. You know about any flaws or red flags that are in your house, and it helps build credibility for you as a house seller. However, all of these are actually beneficial for those who have the time to spruce up their house before selling it, or who are willing to make some investments in the name of house repairs, on the hope that the investment will pay off in the form of a higher selling price.
But what if you wanted to sell your house now and you don’t want to spend any more time and money on the process? The simple answer, don’t get a house inspection. Sell your house as-is, and let the buyer deal with the rest.
Pre-listing House Inspection Will Slow Down the Selling Process
That house which has been collecting dust for some time now will only collect more dust, the longer it remains vacant. Because vacant is exactly what it will remain, the longer the house selling process takes.
Maybe you inherited the property, but you already have a nice little place you call home and don’t intend to move to this one. Or maybe you are moving, and the new life that awaits you will not wait long enough for a lengthy and time-consuming house selling process.
Yet another possibility is that the house you want to sell is nothing less than a bundle of flaws and issues, that would take eons to repair with nothing but the growing pile of bills to help you keep track of the time that has passed. In all of these and other scenarios, it is far easier to simply sell the house as is.
Getting your house inspected before selling it will only make the process longer and a lot more taxing for you. Instead, ditch the home inspection and take the expressway to your new life, untethered by a property you would much rather bid adieu to.
Home Inspections are Expensive
Home inspectors don’t come cheap. They will range from $300-$600 depending on the type of inspection and size of the property. Add to this the costs that will surely come after the home inspection. After all, the main purpose of a house inspection is to identify any red flags or problems with the property.
No use getting these flaws pointed out, if you have no intention of following this through with the repairs. These repairs will not be good for your budget or plan to sell the house fast. The cost of contractors, repairmen, tools, and other material means you will be signing off bills for a long time.
So, instead of pocketing a nice check for selling the property as-is, you would instead be spending a lot of dough fixing a house you have no intention of living in any way. Moreover, you will be required to oversee the entire inspection and the following repair process. This would mean you would either need to spend time away from other matters or would have to hire an overseer. That too is going to cost you. Pretty soon the costs column will grow longer than the profit column.
Not Worth the Time or Money Spent
While it is true that spending money and time on getting your house repaired will surely increase the value of the house, the increase in value is certainly not proportional to the amount you spend. There is no way of guaranteeing that you will be able to score a deal which is still profitable after you have taken out the cost of all the repairs following a house inspection. Business 101.
If the cost is more than the expected profit, it is a far better option to run the other way. So, instead of trying to catch the two birds in the bush, it is better to simply be happy with the one in your hand. At the end of the day, it is not only the more profitable option but also the more hassle-free and stress-free option.
Furthermore, choosing to not get your house inspected for selling is also the ideal solution for those who do not have or aren’t interested in spending the time and money that would be necessary for getting the house inspected and undergoing the repair process that would surely follow.
Dealing with the Home Inspection Findings
Suppose you have a property that has seen better years. Selling it now would mean you won’t have to worry about the many issues that might be present in the house. However, if someone suggests that you stand to get a better deal by getting the house inspected first, don’t listen to them. I repeat, do not listen!
Getting the house inspected is equivalent to toppling the first domino. The rest will also fall, no matter what you do. The house inspection will be followed by a list of issues and problems with the house. Some of these you were probably already aware off, which might be why you want to get rid of the property. That list will be followed by a recommendation of the many repairs and fixes.
Next thing you know you will be pulling your hair out trying to choose between the best wiring options for your house, which contractor to choose, which floorboards to change etc. All this will be in addition to the constant worry that your money is steadily decreasing, with no end in sight. Getting started on repairs is easy.
However, stopping the repair process is a different story altogether. For every issue you fix, you will become aware of many more issue. So, instead of opening the Pandora’s box with a house inspection, in most cases it is better to sell your house as-is.
The Buyer Will Get the House Inspected Any Way
In any transaction, the buyer will not proceed with the purchase, unless they are satisfied with the product they are buying. This holds true even in the real estate industry. When selling your house, you can expect that any potential buyers will surely get the house inspected. This is why it is totally unnecessary for the seller to get the house inspected beforehand.
One might argue that by getting the house inspected first, the seller is able to foresee any potential deal breakers. However, this knowledge is only helpful if you are willing to follow the inspection with the necessary repairs.
But for the reasons already explained, that is not a wise option. So, why bother? Just forget about the house inspection and focus on actually selling your house, because after all, that should be the primary goal of the seller.
Why You Might Need a Home Inspection
The advocates of home inspection will have plenty of reasons to help sway your decision towards hiring an inspector. These reasons range from economics to simply a clearer conscience, however, the fact of the matter is that this decision is only suitable for those who are willing to spend quite a handsome amount hiring inspectors and fixing the property. Not to mention the time that will be wasted doing all this, even before the property has been listed.
Conclusion
All in all, getting a pre-listing house inspection is not at all necessary for selling your house. In fact, if you decide to sell your house to a real estate investor such as FasterHouse LLC, then the need for getting your house inspected before selling becomes next to zero. If you are considering selling your house as-is the easy and fast way call FasterHouse today 314-926-0660
