Skipping Pre-Listing Inspections

 If you can afford it, getting a pre-listing inspection is one of the smartest moves you can make because it lets you find and fix issues before buyers do. When buyers discover problems during their inspection—like a rusty water heater, old HVAC system, or cracked windows—it feels like a huge red flag. Even small issues can derail their confidence, trigger second thoughts, or open the door to major price reductions or canceled deals. The smarter approach is getting major systems checked (HVAC, water heater, roof, plumbing, electrical), fixing simple issues now on your timeline and terms, and considering a seller’s home warranty where many companies offer free coverage during the listing period if you agree to include a one-year warranty for the buyer at closing. This matters because buyers get emotional fast—they’re already nervous, and when their inspector hands them a 40-page report with even minor issues, it feels like a crisis. Suddenly the deal’s in jeopardy over things that could have been fixed weeks earlier for a few hundred dollars. Surprises kill deals, so a pre-listing inspection helps you stay in control—you find the issues, you fix them, you keep the upper hand, and avoid letting buyers turn small cracks into major meltdowns.