Pre-Listing Inspections
Get a comprehensive home inspection before you list, with photo findings to plan repairs and next steps with your agent. Enter the address and property type to start scheduling.
What Does a Pre-Listing Inspection Include?
The same residential home inspection, arranged before you sell. Our inspectors evaluate safely accessible systems from roof to foundation, following the InterNACHI Standards of Practice. You receive written photo findings to review with your listing agent and plan next steps. The inspection is visual and non-invasive. Select an area to see what is checked.
- Range, oven and wall oven run normally
- Dishwasher, disposer and microwave run
- Kitchen exhaust fan and the dryer vent exit
- Service entrance, meter and main disconnect
- Panels, breakers, grounding and bonding
- Sampled outlets and switches; GFCI, AFCI, smoke and CO detectors
- Siding, flashing, trim, eaves, soffits and fascia
- Every exterior door and window.
- Walkways, driveway, stoops, porches, decks and railings
- Foundation walls, slabs and the basement
- Any accessible crawlspace
- Signs of movement, water penetration and wood touching soil
- Vehicle door and opener on their normal controls
- Auto reverse and photo eye safety sensors
- Walls, ceiling, floor and the fire door into the house
- Grading and drainage at the foundation
- Retaining walls and vegetation against the house
- Downspout discharge, walkways, driveway and steps
- Heating and cooling run on their normal controls
- Energy source, method and thermostat location noted
- Visible ducts, filter, condensate drainage and equipment condition
- Floors, walls, ceilings, stairs and railings
- All accessible doors and windows opened and closed
- Accessible attic: insulation depth, ventilation and framing; fireplace and damper
- Sink, faucet, drain and disposer run
- Dishwasher connection checked for leaks
- Cabinets, drawers, counters, floors, walls, ceiling and exhaust fan
- Main water and fuel shut-offs located
- Water heater, its venting and TPR valve; pipe materials
- Every toilet flushed; every sink, tub and shower run
- Coverings, flashing, vents, skylights and chimney
- Gutters, downspouts, eaves and rake
- Roof structure from inside the attic where accessible
- Visible framing, beams, posts and joists
- Masonry walls and the chimney structure
- Settlement signs: cracks, out of square openings, unlevel floors
Concealed conditions, stored belongings, utilities, weather and unsafe or restricted access can limit the inspection. Optional radon, termite and mold testing are quoted separately.
Plan ahead of your listing date. Allow time to review the report and discuss any repairs or further evaluation with your agent. Share your property details and intended listing date when scheduling your inspection.
How Your Pre-Listing Inspection Works
Three steps to understand your home before it goes on the market.
Step 1
Share your property and listing timeline
Call our office or book online, whichever you prefer. Share the property address, home details and intended listing date. We will confirm the scope, final fee, appointment and assigned inspector.
Step 2
Your inspector evaluates the property
Your inspector reviews agreed, safely accessible systems and records the findings. You are welcome to join the walkthrough, ask questions and point out known concerns or earlier repairs.
Step 3
Review your report and plan next steps
Most reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours. Review the photo findings with your listing agent, discuss any contractor follow-up and decide how to prepare the home for sale. Contact us with questions about the report.
A Clear Report Before You Sell
Photographs and plain-language findings help you and your agent understand the home's condition. Every home inspection report is peer reviewed before delivery.
- Observed concerns and recommended follow-up
- Areas that could not be inspected and access limitations
- A written record to organize your next steps
View a sample inspection report. For repair-cost planning, ask about the separate Repair Estimate Report.
Starting from $350
Final pricing depends on the property and agreed scope. Optional testing is quoted separately. Get your inspection quote.
Pre-listing inspections near you
Pre-listing inspections across Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC, from $350. Select your county or city for local information. Final pricing depends on property type and square footage; confirm your quote, access and intended listing date before booking.
Virginia
From $350Pre-listing inspection · property-specific quote
Counties we cover
Maryland
From $350Pre-listing inspection · property-specific quote
Counties we cover
Washington DC
From $350Pre-listing inspection · property-specific quote
Coverage
Pre-listing inspections across Washington DC.
Share the property address to confirm coverage and the inspection scope.
Pre-Listing Inspection Questions, Answered
What to expect when arranging a home inspection before selling.
What is a pre-listing home inspection?
A pre-listing home inspection is arranged by a seller before putting a property on the market. An inspector reviews agreed, safely accessible systems and components and provides written findings and photographs. You can use the report to discuss repairs, maintenance and further evaluation with your agent or qualified contractors.
When should I schedule an inspection before selling my home?
Book before your planned listing date, allowing time to receive and review the report, obtain any contractor advice and decide how to handle the findings. Share your listing timeline when requesting a quote. Most home inspection reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours; any repairs or further evaluations need their own time.
How much does a seller's pre-listing inspection cost?
Pre-listing home inspections start at $350. Your final fee depends on the property and agreed scope. Share the address, home type, square footage and listing timeline so our team can confirm your quote and appointment options. Optional testing and the Repair Estimate Report are quoted separately.
Do I have to repair everything in the report?
The report documents observed conditions and recommendations; it is not a repair order. Review the findings with your agent and consult qualified contractors where further evaluation or repair advice is needed. Keep records of any work you arrange. The inspection does not determine a sale price or guarantee a particular sale outcome.
Does a pre-listing inspection replace the buyer's inspection?
Buyers may choose to arrange their own independent inspection. A seller's report describes conditions observed on that inspection date, within its agreed scope and access limits. It does not prevent a buyer from asking questions or identifying other concerns.
Should I attend, and how should I prepare the home?
You are welcome to attend and point out known concerns or earlier repairs. Confirm entry and parking instructions, keep agreed inspection areas accessible, arrange for pets, and tell us about utility status or restricted spaces. Do not move stored items or open equipment if doing so would be unsafe; discuss access limits with our team.
Are radon, termite and mold testing included?
These are separate services with their own scope, scheduling and fees. Tell our team about your property, concerns and listing timeline so we can discuss relevant options and confirm what is included in your quote. A visual home inspection does not replace laboratory testing or a dedicated wood-destroying organism inspection.
Can I share the inspection report with my agent?
The written photo report can help you and your listing agent review the home's condition and organize next steps. Discuss any wider sharing and seller documentation with your agent. If work is completed after the inspection, retain the contractor records; the original report does not verify later repairs.
Need help with your property? Call (703) 450-6398 or request a quote. Explore our service area, our inspection team and inspector certifications.