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Yes, it’s true; a pre-inspection can be a great tool for sellers to verify the condition of their house in preparation for a selling.  So nothing to worry about buyers because the seller has already taken care of everything found on the pre-inspection, right?

A home buyer should be aware of a few key positions before taking comfort in a seller-provided inspection report.  Ask yourself, “Who is the inspector is working for?”  When home buyers are examining a property to purchase, they hire the inspector on their own behalf.  The vendor has a responsibility to address that buyer’s concerns and not any other party’s.  In a pre-inspection, the report belongs to the seller and the buyer isn’t present during that inspection period to make requests or address individual concerns.  
 
Most home owners aren’t experts in construction or even aware of some potential warning signs of the home they occupy.  The pre-inspection could be helpful in preparing them for what to expect home buyers to come back to them with.  It may lead to a repair job by the seller to brag to the buyer about and show just how motivated they are to sell.  But not all inspectors are created equally.  The inspection reports may have a lot in common on findings, but there will always be a few things that one finds and the other doesn’t.  The buyer is ultimately responsible to perform due diligence and hire an inspector with their individual needs in mind.  Your Realtor can be a great source for recommendations, but it’s you the inspector ultimately needs to report to on your future home.