The Pros and Cons of Open Versus Closed Inspections of your Home

You have the choice of either an open or a closed inspection for your home. You want potential buyers to feel very comfortable, so it’s best to talk to your real estate agent to find out what they recommend. You should also voice your preferences and your concerns.

Open Inspections

With open inspections, a time and date is set up for people to come in and walk through the property. This is also referred to as an ‘open house’. You can get the home ready and people can come and go for that day. There should be a host in place to greet them and to answer any questions they may have. Potential buyers often like this because they don’t feel put on the spot when they are the only ones looking at the home. The downside to this though is you may have too many people in your home at one time for your comfort level. You may be worried about security issues too, so keep all valuables securely locked up any time the home is being shown. There may be very little time for interested buyers to chat one on one with your agent.

Private Inspections

With private inspections, a time is scheduled for that person to come look at the home. They will typically come with your real estate agent. You will need to make sure your home is always ready for each schedule appointment. You also want to arrange your schedule so you aren’t home at the time they arrive. It can be tough to maintain the upkeep of the home day after day. It can also be frustrating when you have plenty of private inspections taking place but no one making an offer on the home yet. Some sellers go with both methods to increase their odds of selling the home in less time.