Can I Sell My Home in Coral Gables Without an Inspection?

Can I sell my home in Coral Gables without an inspection?
Yes — you can sell your Coral Gables home without getting a pre-listing inspection, and buyers can waive inspections too. But skipping this step can lead to surprises, negotiation issues, or delays. Riley Smith Group helps you decide the right approach for your property and market.

Let’s Break It Down: Are Inspections Required?

There’s no legal requirement in Florida to conduct a pre-sale home inspection before listing your property. Similarly, buyers aren’t legally required to conduct an inspection — though most do.

So yes, you can sell without an inspection. But the risks and rewards depend on your goals, your property’s condition, and the type of buyer you want to attract.

When Sellers Skip the Pre-Listing Inspection

Many Coral Gables sellers list their homes without ordering a pre-listing inspection. Common reasons include:

• The home is in excellent condition
• They recently renovated or rebuilt
• They don’t want to spend extra upfront
• They plan to sell the home “as is”
• They believe a buyer will perform their own due diligence

This approach can work — especially if the home is newer or fully updated. But there’s also a risk: if issues surface during the buyer’s inspection, it could result in:

• Price renegotiations
• Repair requests
• Deal delays
• Contract cancellation

Riley Smith Group helps you weigh whether a pre-listing inspection could protect your negotiation leverage or avoid future surprises.

Pros and Cons of a Pre-Listing Inspection

✅ Pros:

• Know issues in advance (and fix them)
• Avoid last-minute negotiations
• Build buyer trust
• Justify pricing with clean inspection report

❌ Cons:

• Out-of-pocket cost (~$300–$600)
• Required to disclose known issues
• Could lead to unnecessary repairs

Can a Buyer Purchase Without Doing an Inspection?

Yes. In competitive markets — especially for fully renovated, move-in-ready homes in areas like the Golden Triangle or near Granada Golf Course — some buyers waive inspections to strengthen their offers.

That said, it’s rare, and most buyers will conduct an inspection during their due diligence period.

Florida’s standard “As Is” contract gives buyers the right to cancel for any reason during the inspection period — which typically lasts 7 to 15 days.

Even if you don’t inspect before listing, expect a buyer to inspect after the offer is accepted.

Selling “As Is” — What That Really Means

In Florida, listing a home “As Is” means:

• You’re not committing to repairs
• The buyer can still inspect
• The buyer can cancel if they find something they don’t like
• You’re still required to disclose known material defects

Example: If you know the roof leaks, you must disclose it — whether or not you do an inspection.

Selling “As Is” doesn’t protect you from disclosure obligations. But it can set clearer expectations about negotiations.

When Should You Consider a Pre-Listing Inspection?

You might benefit from a pre-listing inspection if:

• Your home is older or hasn’t been recently updated
• You inherited or haven’t lived in the home and don’t know its condition
• You want to sell quickly and avoid back-and-forth
• You plan to list above market and need justification for the price

Riley Smith Group can refer you to trusted local inspectors and review the findings to help you decide what’s worth fixing — and what’s not.

Real Example: Inspection Strategy That Worked

A seller in North Gables had an older home with some deferred maintenance. Instead of listing “As Is,” we recommended a pre-listing inspection. The seller addressed three small issues, included the clean inspection report in the listing package, and received two offers in the first week — both with waived inspection contingencies.

Final Take: You Don’t Have to Inspect — But You Should Have a Plan

Skipping a pre-listing inspection won’t stop you from selling your Coral Gables home. But it could affect your timeline, your price, and your leverage.

At Riley Smith Group, we help sellers make smart, case-by-case decisions:

• Should you inspect before listing?
• Should you fix issues or sell “As Is”?
• Should you offer the buyer a credit or reduce the price?

We know the Coral Gables market inside and out — and we’ll guide you to the right choice based on your goals, property condition, and the type of buyer you’re trying to attract.

Thinking about selling but unsure if you should inspect first?
Let’s take a walk through your home and create a tailored listing strategy that gets you the best result.