Home / Pre-listing inspection
Pre-listing inspection for sellers
Find out what a buyer's inspector will find while you still have time to fix it, price for it or disclose it.
Why sellers inspect first
- Fewer surprises. You hear about the problem from me, weeks before closing, and not from the buyer's agent in the middle of a deal.
- Better pricing. You and your agent can price the home knowing its true condition.
- Time to choose. Repair it properly, get quotes, or disclose it and price accordingly.
- Buyer confidence. Sharing the report shows you have nothing to hide.
- A smoother sale. Deals are less likely to fall apart over a late discovery.
Already have an offer?
Use the checklist below to get ready for the buyer's inspection. It improves access and avoids easy write-ups. It doesn't replace a professional inspection.
If you still have the inspection report from when you bought the house, read it again. Items flagged back then tend to show up again unless they were fixed.
Seller's checklist for the buyer's inspection
Inside
- Run toilets and faucets and look for leaks, including under sinks
- Touch up failed caulk and grout in kitchens and baths
- Test bath fans, ceiling fans and exhaust fans
- Replace dead bulbs and check every switch
- Test GFCI outlets in the kitchen, baths, garage, laundry and outside
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Fit a clean, correctly sized air filter
- Open, close and lock every window and door
- Make sure appliances that stay with the house work
Outside and access
- Test the garage door, opener and auto-reverse
- Clear gutters and downspouts if you have them
- Check hose bibs for leaks
- Secure loose handrails, steps and deck boards
- Clear a path to the electrical panel, water heater, furnace, attic hatch and crawlspace hatch
- Leave all utilities on, with pilot lights lit
- Unlock gates, sheds and outbuildings
- Secure pets or take them with you
- Write down known repairs and stains to disclose
Common questions
Do I have to share the pre-listing report with buyers?
Talk to your real estate agent about your disclosure obligations. Many sellers choose to share the report because it builds trust and reduces renegotiation.
Will the buyer still do their own inspection?
Usually, yes. The difference is that their inspector is far less likely to find something you didn't already know about.
Ready to book your inspection?
Pick a time online in a couple of minutes, or call or text Bob at (575) 763-0001.