More and more real estate agents are asking their clients to get a physical inspection before putting a property on the market.
Benefits to a pre-listing inspection by a competent inspector:
For leases you have a record of the condition of the property prior to tenants moving in.
Decreased chance of surprises. When the buyer gets his/her own inspection, the property condition will already be known because you will have already disclosed any issues in the TDS.
Before you list the property, you can opt to make any necessary corrections on anything that may be a deterrent to potential buyers. Fewer issues that arise can decrease the chances of falling out of escrow during the contingency period.
For buyers who prefer not to get their own inspection done and choose to rely on the seller’s inspection report, they may sign off on the inspection contingency earlier which could lead to securing your deal sooner.
For recently renovated buildings or new construction, you have an objective 3rd party to validate condition of property and/or allow you to make any last little corrections—which if not done could put the sale at risk later.
Minimal price negotiating because you have already taken into account any known property deficiencies and set the price accordingly. Anyone who sees the property profile has little or no room for bargaining.
Your property may sell faster. With negotiations minimized, you may spend less time with counter offers, have decreased risk of falling out of escrow due to defects, and you have more of your valuable time and energy to spend on future sales instead of unexpected surprises.