Should You Get a Home Inspection Before Selling Your Home in Orange County?

Why is the “Address and Disclose” strategy may be a smarter way to prep your home for sale?

When you’re getting ready to sell your home in Orange County, one question often comes up:

Should I get a home inspection before putting my home on the market?

While a pre-sale home inspection may seem like a proactive move, it’s not always the best strategy—especially in today’s Orange County real estate market. Here’s why, and what we suggest doing instead.

What Is a Pre-Sale Home Inspection?

A pre-sale (or pre-listing) inspection is when a homeowner hires a home inspector before the property is listed. The idea is to uncover any issues early and handle them before a buyer gets involved.

But there’s a catch: Any inspection you order must be shared with buyers later. That can lead to unnecessary questions, especially if the buyer brings in their own inspector with different findings.

Why It Might Not Help Your Sale

Most buyers will still want their own inspection, even if you provide them with a report. If their inspection reveals new or conflicting issues, it can cause confusion, concern—or even impact the strength of their offer.

In many cases, you’re better off skipping the formal inspection and focusing instead on preparing your home strategically.

Our Preferred Approach: “Address and Disclose”

We’ve helped many homeowners throughout Orange County prepare their homes for sale using a simple but effective approach we call “Address and Disclose.”

Here’s what it looks like:

1. Address Small Issues That Affect Buyer Perception

Start by noting issues you already know about. Then, with guidance from your Realtor, decide which items are worth fixing.

For example: A slowly dripping kitchen faucet might seem minor, but if there’s a bucket catching water under the sink, it can create a poor impression about how well the home has been maintained.

Fixing these types of items is typically inexpensive and pays off by presenting a more cared-for home.

Once a repair is made, be transparent with buyers by noting the update in your disclosures.

“A well-prepared kitchen in Aliso Viejo—small fixes can make a big impact when selling in Orange County.”

2. Disclose, Don’t Stress, Over Bigger Issues You’re Not Addressing

Some issues may not be worth fixing—especially if time or cost is a factor. For example, if the seal on your sliding glass door is broken and the glass is foggy (but still functional), replacing it might take weeks.

Instead of delaying your moving plans, you can leave the door as-is and include a note in your disclosures so buyers know about it up front.

As always, check with your Realtor for guidance on how best to approach disclosure in your specific situation.

Final Tips for Sellers in Orange County

Whether you’re in North County or South County, the formula is the same:

• List the issues you already know about
• Fix the ones that could impact your sale
• Be transparent about anything you didn’t address
• Keep records if you use contractors—especially for major work

Your real estate agent can help you weigh what’s worth doing based on the market, your timeline, and your goals.

Thinking About Selling? We Can Help.

We help Orange County homeowners make smart decisions when preparing to sell—without overspending or overcomplicating the process.

Whether you’re selling in Aliso Viejo or Yorba Linda, we’ll help you create a plan that makes your home market-ready and attractive to today’s buyers.

Have questions? Let’s talk. We’re here to help.