SELLING YOUR HOME IN THIS MARKET?   A TIP.

The real estate market has changed over the last year. The inventory is up. Houses are on the market longer. Prices have stabilized or are coming down. New home builders are offering incentives. Read the paper.

What's a seller to do to make their home more attractive than the home down the street? Get a pre-listing inspection.

Why, and who pays for it?

Why? Most people buy the house somewhere from curbside to kitchen. Then they have ten days to get their inspections. The more difficult negotiation is the one after the inspections when you get the request for repairs. You can minimize that. How?

When you do your listing and when you do your Sellers Property Disclosure (SPDS) you declare..."The water heater was leaking and we fixed it. There are cracks in the block wall, and we're not...And, to make sure you know about your new home, besides the SPDS, here's a home inspection so you know all about the home. And, that's why it is offered at the low, low price of $..."

Will the buyers get their own inspection? Maybe and probably. And, their inspection may or may not discover additional items. Stuff happens. (I saw a bumper sticker like that once.) If so, it should be minimal and manageable.

Who pays for it? You are going to love this...the buyers. When you and your realtor decide on a reasonable listing price, add in another $300+/-. When the MLS screen pops up a home listed at $349,500, it will appear in the group with the one listed at $349,900. Same group, minimal dollar difference.

Whatever you can do to move the home once listed is to your advantage. The cost of an avearge home inspection is about one fifth the cost of the average mortage payment. Do the math.

So, get a pre-listing inspection, fix what you and your realtor decide, make sure your listing reflects what you are not willing to fix, minimze the request for repair hassle, hopefully avoid another mortage payment.

Nel Broce

Nel is a Senior Inspector at Desert State Home Inspections. AHSI #109712, AZ Certifcation # 38548. He can be reached at 480-585-6456.