Do You Need a Certified Home Inspection to Sell Your Home?

A certified home inspection by a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is generally affordable for most homeowners. However, you may wonder what happens next if they find issues.

Considering that 86% of home inspections find at least one issue with the home, some repairs will likely be recommended. If you want to sell a house fast, the last thing you want to deal with is repairs. They’ll likely delay the process and cost you money you want to avoid spending.

Therein lies the challenge: Is it necessary to have an inspection before selling? The simple answer is no. You can sell a home as is and get quick cash for it.

However, it’s not such a straightforward choice. There are various factors to consider when determining whether incurring home inspection costs is worth it or not.

What Is a Certified Home Inspection?

A certified home inspection is a professional home assessment to determine if it has any issues. In most cases, inspections occur once you have an offer from the buyer but before finalizing the sale.

However, you can also conduct an inspection in preparation for a sale, known as a pre-inspection. Doing so helps you know if your property has issues before going to market.

As the seller, a positive report after a home inspection will ensure your property can be priced at maximum value during the sale.

Some of the things a home inspector will look at include:

Foundation
Roof
Electrical
Plumbing
HVAC
Insulation
Ventilation
Carbon monoxide and fire alarms

Since home inspections are visual assessments, they do not provide in-depth details on things such as the interior of sewer lines and pipes.

Pros of Getting a Certified Home Inspection

Even though you may have to do some repairs before going to market, there are plenty of reasons to consider hiring a home inspector. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect.

1. Boost the Value of Your Property

A home inspection will help you identify areas that may need fixing to ensure it’s in the best possible condition for buyers. In turn, this will make it more appealing to buyers, increasing its value.

2. Attract More Buyer’s Faster

While you can list your property faster if you want to sell a home as is, it does not necessarily guarantee you’ll get a buyer quicker. Most people want to move into homes ready for their families and expect you to do the repairs before the sale. Therefore, taking the initiative to do an inspection and necessary fixes before selling may help you secure a buyer faster.

Pros of Selling a Home As Is

When you don’t have the time, cash, or desire to go through the inspection process, you can sell your house in its current condition. Some people and companies specialize in identifying and purchasing fixer-uppers. They aim to get them at a good price, do the necessary repairs and renovations, and then sell the properties at a profit after repairs.

According to a recent study, 10% of home sales across US counties can be attributed to home flips. In most cases, these individuals are ready to pay for the property immediately once you agree on the price. Therefore, if you can target the right market, selling a house as is can help you get cash fast.

Cons of Selling Your Home As Is

The upside of selling your house without doing an inspection or repairs is that you can complete the deal quickly once you have a buyer. However, this approach also comes with some downsides:

You will have to make concessions on your property valuation to make the risk of doing repairs worthwhile for the buyer
Not many people will be interested in a property they have to repair before moving into
There may be delays when dealing with mortgage buyers as the lender will insist on an appraisal of the property

Inspection Contingencies

With ‘as is’ home sales, the buyer is resigned to the fact that you want to sell your property as fast as possible. In this case, they’re willing to forgo inspections before making the purchase. But they don’t do this mindlessly.

As seasoned real estate investors, they are good at determining the possible repairs a house may need. They may also include an inspection contingency as part of the sale agreement.

An inspection contingency stipulates that the contract will only be binding subject to a professional inspection within a specified period (usually 7-10 days).

These clauses protect buyers by giving them time to gather information about the property. If they discover that the property requires more repair work than is financially viable for the deal, they can renegotiate or walk away with their cash.

Disclosing Issues in an As Is Sale

As the seller, you are responsible for acting in good faith, even if you don’t want to do an inspection and repairs. Therefore, you should not try to exploit buyers by passing on necessary repairs and other major issues.

Along with ensuring key safety features such as smoke detectors are in place, you should also disclose material defects. These are issues affecting components of a residential property that expose people to unnecessary risk or negatively impact property value.

Even if the sale is complete, the buyer can demand reimbursement or sue you for the after-sale repairs you did not disclose. Therefore, just because the buyer agrees not to do an inspection does not mean you are absolved of the responsibility to disclose issues.

When Is It Ideal to Sell a House As Is?

The first thing you should know when selling your property without doing repairs is that your pool of potential buyers will be smaller. This is because most people will assume the property has more issues than you or they want to handle.

That being said, there are various situations where exploring an as-is sale is ideal:

Relocation: If you’re relocating to a different state, selling your home fast is likely your only option to purchase your next house
Retirement: After retiring, you may want to downsize or move to a place more suitable for your lifestyle goals without burdening yourself with repairs
Inheritance: If you already own a house or your inherited property is far from your work, offloading it quickly may be a good option

In addition to these reasons, you may not be able to organize and oversee repairs. This makes selling your property to home flippers a great option.

Tips for Selling a House As Is

Considering the unique circumstances of such a sale, how you go about it will make all the difference. Here are some of the top strategies for selling a house as is.

1. Embrace Transparency

For most people, purchasing a house is a significant and life-altering investment. If they sense any danger or hint of dishonesty on your part, they’ll back out of the deal.

Make your position clear to avoid this and ensure you only attract buyers ready to do the repairs. From your listings to phone calls and in-person negotiations, be clear that you will not do any repairs. Furthermore, include it in the purchase and sale agreement.

2. Make Your Property Presentable

Whether it’s a young couple looking for their first home or a seasoned real estate investor, how the house looks will shape their perception of its value.

So, make some effort to keep the property clean and tidy. Put the dishes away, make the beds, clear the clutter, and mow the lawn. You’ll be surprised at how much value you can add by staging your house correctly.

3. Know the Price Range You Can Work With

Many potential buyers will want to maximize the resale value of a fixer-upper. Therefore, don’t be offended when you receive low offers. Instead, channel your negotiation skills and be prepared to make counteroffers to get a favorable deal.

One of the best ways to improve your negotiation capacity is to determine the ideal and lowest price you can take. With such a range in mind, it’ll be easier to steer the conversation.

4. Consider Working With a Real Estate Agent

It’s possible to find a buyer for your house without a real estate agent. However, it may take longer. Considering you want to sell fast, hiring an agent is a great choice.

They can tap into their network of clients and agents to find a buyer quickly. Moreover, their knowledge and experience will give them an edge in negotiations. Therefore, even if they may get a commission, a professional will help you sell your house fast and get you a better deal.

Sell Your House Fast Without a Certified Home Inspection

Selling your property without a certified home inspection is not only possible, but it’s ideal in various situations. However, getting a client can be challenging as most people want homes ready to move into.

Luckily, finding a buyer for your Memphis property without a certified home inspection will not be an issue. At We Buy Houses, we offer homeowners an easy and fast way to sell. Within 24 hours of reaching out to us, you’ll have a fair cash offer.

So, contact us today to sell your home without worrying about inspections and repairs.