Can You Sell a House As-Is Without an Inspection?

The standard real estate process involves the homeowner making repairs and marketing the property to potential buyers. Once an offer is made and accepted, the buyers inspect the home to confirm it is in good condition before moving forward with the closing date.

However, there may be times when the seller wants to list the house as-is and ask buyers to move forward without a home inspection. This could be a good option for sellers who want to move quickly and don’t have the time and ability to fix up the home and cover repair costs.

Selling a house as-is without a home inspection is a little more complicated than a standard listing. Learn more about this option and how to move forward with it. 

Can You Sell a House As-Is Without an Inspection?

The first thing to know is that you can legally sell a house without a home inspection. Buyers sometimes agree to waive the home inspection process to get their bids accepted. If you are selling in a hot real estate market where you expect multiple bids on your home shortly after listing, then you might receive offers without home inspection requirements or you could make counteroffers with the inspections waived. 

Even if you don’t live in a competitive seller’s market, you might be able to sell your house as-is without an inspection by marketing it to investors and home flippers. These prospective buyers understand that the properties they acquire are more likely to have unaddressed issues and will place their bids accordingly. One drawback is that you might receive a lower offer than expected if the investor thinks there are serious issues or can’t inspect the house before buying. 

There is one common factor amongst all buyers who are waiving the inspection report: they are paying with cash. Mortgage lenders require buyers to get properties inspected and usually require appraisals as well. Cash buyers can skip this process because they don’t have to follow lender regulations.

While this limits your buyer pool, it can also be good news for the offers you receive. Cash offers usually close faster because there isn’t an underwriting process to complete.

Benefits of Selling As-Is Without an Inspection

There are several reasons why you may encounter homeowners selling as-is without allowing inspections. Some people opt for this route so they can save time while others don’t feel like navigating the real estate negotiation process. Here are a few perks of listing your property in as-is condition. 

• List immediately: don’t waste several weeks or months making repairs to your home and preparing it for sale. 
• Save money: repairs aren’t just time-consuming, they are also expensive. Sell as-is if you don’t have the money to cover repair costs at the moment.
• Save energy: home repairs often require sellers to hire contractors and potentially pull permits. When you sell as-is, you can skip all of this extra work. 
• Close faster: you don’t have to worry about delays in closing because the buyer requests repairs or upgrades. You can also close faster because your buyer is more likely to be paying with cash. 
• Limit opportunities for negotiation: some buyers use the home inspection as a tool to negotiate a lower price. By asking the buyer to waive the inspection, you can settle on a final sale price with the initial contract.     

This is often a preferred home sale option for people who need to move in a hurry. If your house is facing foreclosure, you are going through a divorce, or you need to relocate for a job, you might opt for an as-is sale that skips the inspection period.

Risks of Selling As-Is Without an Inspection

While there are significant benefits to selling as-is and asking the buyer to waive the inspection, this option also has multiple drawbacks. You might not get the response or interest you want if your house isn’t competitive in the market. Here are a few potential risks to keep in mind. 

• You may have to list for a lower asking price: turn-key homes often make more money because they don’t need repairs or upgrades. If a buyer knows that your home needs work and can’t get an inspection, they might offer a much lower amount than you are ready to sell for.
• The buyer pool will be smaller: you will have to market your property to investors, home flippers, and cash buyers. This means you will have a much smaller pool of interested parties who want to see your house. 
• The home sale could take longer: A poor pricing strategy and limited pool could keep your home on the market for several weeks or months. This strategy to sell faster could actually be slower. 
• There could potentially be legal issues with the sale: some people try to sell as-is without inspections when there is unpermitted work. If you know your house has unpermitted work, you may be liable for addressing the issue or compensating the buyer to address it.  

Your real estate agent should help you overcome these potential risks. They can price your house competitively so you make more money, contact investors, and review any potential legal issues you might face.

How to Sell a House As-Is Without a Home Inspection

If you decide selling as-is without an inspection report is your best option, there are a few steps you can take to make the transaction easier. Use this guide to begin the home sale process easier so you do less work while selling your home in a timely manner.

Consider Scheduling a Pre-Listing Inspection

Most people think the inspection happens after the offer, but you can also hire an inspector before you list the house. This will give you an idea of any potential issues with the hope and their potential cost. From there, you can either fix the issues yourself or acknowledge how they might affect your pricing strategy. 

Home inspections cost between $300 and $500, depending on the size of the home and the location of the property. The inspector might charge more if you have a pool or guesthouse. While buyers usually cover the cost of the inspection during the purchase process, you will have to pay for a pre-listing inspection out of pocket if you do it on your own. 

A pre-listing inspection is useful to share with your real estate agent to make sure they fairly price your property. Highlight any repairs you made when they review it. Some buyers might also accept a pre-listing inspection report instead of booking their own, but this is rare.

Hire a Real Estate Agent

The first step is to work with an experienced real estate professional who has sold as-is properties before without home inspections. Try to find agents who specialize in selling as-is properties and know how to attract real estate investors. If your Realtor feels comfortable taking on your house as-is, they are more likely to have multiple tools in their belt to get your property sold. 

At FastExpert, we recommend interviewing at least three real estate agents to choose the best one for your as-is sale. Ask your potential Realtors about their experience selling as-is and different marketing strategies for this option. They should also also provide comparative market analyses (CMAs) that evaluate the value of your house. 

During these interviews, be honest about the state of the property. It is better for your agent to know about serious issues than to be surprised when they crop up in the middle of the sale process.

Price the Property Competitively

Your pricing strategy depends on the property’s condition and the results of the CMAs. The CMAs will pull the listing and sale prices of similarly-sized homes that recently sold in your area. Your agent will then use the CMA to estimate the value of selling your house as-is. This is not an appraisal, but it does provide an estimated value of what your property could sell for in as-is condition. 

If the other homes in the CMA are in good shape, then your suggested listing price might be lower because your property needs repairs. Even if your house is in good shape, listing a house as-is and requesting buyers skip the inspection could lead to lower offers. 

This listing price isn’t necessarily the sale price. Expect potential buyers to place bids that are thousands of dollars lower than your initial listing. Before you place your house as-is on the market, have a minimum price that you are willing to accept for the property. This is your floor and you will not accept bids that fall below it.

Develop a Strategy for Price Adjustments

When you interview real estate agents, ask what happens if there are delays in your as-is sale. Most homeowners try to sell a house as-is because they want to move quickly, but your property might stay on the market longer than you expect. 

Discuss when you are okay with dropping your home sale price and how steeply you are willing to reduce it. For example, a $1,000 price drop might not get much traction with buyers, but a $10,000 adjustment could attract interested parties. No one wants to think about doing this, but price drops are a reality for many home sellers.

Most agents will maintain your price point for a few weeks at a time before lowering it again. Pricing strategies vary by market and agent. Talk to your Realtors about their best practices so you feel confident hiring an agent you agree with.

Review Multiple Marketing Strategies

If you are selling as-is and want to move quickly, make sure your agent has multiple marketing tactics at their disposal. Your goal is to reach the largest number of qualified buyers who could be interested in your listing. Here are a few potential marketing strategies they could discuss with you: 

• Sharing your home on the multiple listing service (MLS): this allows your property to be found on sites like Zillow, so buyers can learn about your home. 
• Sending email blasts to other agents and investors: this promotes your house to real estate professionals who can pass it on to their buyers.
• Hosting open houses: talk to your Realtor if you are comfortable with their hosting an open house to attract potential buyers and their agents. 
• Promoting your house on social media: your agent might be able to share your property with investment groups and potential home flippers online. 

Even if you are selling as-is, invest in professional photography and even videography of the home. This can position your house in the best possible light.

Negotiate with Buyers

When offers come in, your Realtor should review the terms of the agreement and ask if you want to counter any points or offer a different price. You can decide whether you feel comfortable accepting the offer or if you feel like you could get a better deal. Asking the buyer to purchase the house as-is without an inspection is already a significant request. This means you might not have as much negotiating power as if you had a normal sale. 

The main point of contention you are likely to address is the price. If the offer is too low, you can counter with a higher amount. The buyer will either reject the deal or counter with a new number. Other factors, like the closing period and what is included with the house, can also contribute to these negotiations. 

If you are too soft in your negotiations, you might get a deal you aren’t happy with. If you are too firm, the buyer could walk away. In most cases, you will have more negotiating power if you receive multiple offers because you can choose the best one or have a backup plan if a bidder walks away.

Consider Working With Cash Buyers

If you are having trouble attracting people to your home, your agent might recommend working with cash-for-homes companies that buy distressed houses with cash. An as-is sale is standard with these organizations and some companies are willing to waive inspections until after closing. While this is considered a low-risk real estate transaction, it also has a lower reward. These companies are known for low-balling homeowners, which means you might receive an offer that is below your floor. 

A qualified real estate agent will do everything they can to help you avoid these companies. They will try to pair you with trusted investors and qualified buyers. However, if speed is your top priority, selling as-is to a cash-for-homes offer could be your safest option.

Find a Realtor Who Has Experience With As-Is Sellers

It’s not unheard of to sell as-is and ask buyers to waive the inspection. While this limits your pool of potential buyers, you might be able to sell quickly to a local real estate investor. Everything is negotiable in real estate transactions, even the inspection capabilities. Keep in mind that this option could slow your home sale, especially if you don’t have a competitive price strategy. 

To effectively sell your home, turn to FastExpert. You can meet with Realtors in your local real estate market and ask them questions about the sales process. FastExpert can make you feel confident in the agent you hire so you make the best possible choices for your home. Try our services today and take the first steps toward the home sale.