Staging FAQs: Should Sellers Have a Pre-Sale Inspection?

Shortest FAQ answer in this series yet: Yes! But perhaps you have a more burning question: Why would this be part of a discussion with a Home Stager?

Home Inspections-where a trained professional goes through a house checking and evaluating the systems and infrastructure of the house-are traditionally initiated by a buyer, most often after their offer has been accepted by the seller. But the number of sellers now choosing pre-sale inspections are increasing: one inspector, speaking at the local WCR meeting this week estimated it was 25% of his business now.

Financing still takes months, even for an above-average qualified buyer, so it's in no one's best interest to spend any time going down that road, only to find conditions that could derail the deal, or complicate  negotiations. 

Properties that show a clean bill of health from Day One stand out, and shine a little brighter in the eyes of a buyer. Sellers can also remedy any conditions found to need attention faster, and almost always for a bunch less money than a buyer will estimate.  

And next best-if seller cannot remedy conditions, property is priced accordingly from the get-go, helping to prevent the deal souring at either the buyer inspection or appraisal stage.

Buyers will often pay to have their own separate inspection down the line, but that is a conversation best left to the principles, their attorney and their agent.

Still wondering why talking about Pre-sale seller inspections are part of this Westchester County Home Stager's initial consult?

The Refreshed Home believes preparing a property for sale is a thoughtful strategy that considers ALL the  circumstances. Home Staging's #1 goal is for a property to sell both well, and quickly.

TRH works with the seller and agent to evaluate and prioritize.  Why spend time planning, why advise a seller to invest funds on anything of cosmetic or discretionary value if a buyer's inspector is going to find there's about 45 minutes of useful life left on the roof, or the basement has mold? 

Sometimes Home Staging IS about adding the green flags that add visual appeal, but making sure the red and yellow flags are remedied are a sellers'-and my-first priority.

Marie Graham is an Interior Decorator, an Accredited Home Stager, and the owner of The Refreshed Home. Helping homeowners make plans that make sense, she can be reached at  914.607.2895, or marie@therefreshedhome.com