Better preparation. Better protection. Better outcomes.
At the end of the day, our sellers deserve better: better preparation, better protection, and better outcomes.
That belief is what led us to introduce our Pre-Listing Inspection Advantage—a proactive strategy designed to help our clients hold their pricing, reduce friction during due diligence, and move from contract to closing with greater confidence. Homes that complete this process are designated Legacy Standard — Prepared Prior to Market, reflecting a higher level of preparation and transparency for our sellers.
This wasn’t an idea pulled out of thin air. It came from doing the work—reviewing our own sales, paying close attention to how buyer behavior is changing, and asking an important question:
Are we doing everything possible to protect our sellers in today’s market?
What We’re Seeing in the Market
Over the past year, we took a deep dive into our transactions—list-to-sales price ratios, contract prices versus settlement prices, and where negotiations actually take place.
One trend stood out clearly.
Buyers are increasingly being coached by their agents to agree to a price up front and revisit that price later during the inspection or due-diligence period. While inspections have always been part of the process, we’re now seeing that phase used as a strategic pressure point rather than simply a fact-finding step.
This dynamic is especially pronounced for second-home and resort properties, where inspections often extend beyond the home itself to include deferred maintenance, seasonal use, or rental-related considerations.
And that’s where strong seller representation for our clients matters most.
Playing Offense, Not Defense
While some buyers are coached to agree to a price up front and revisit it later during due diligence, we see our role differently. As your coach when selling your home, our game plan is designed to keep our sellers on offense—protecting pricing and momentum—rather than reacting or being forced to punt once a contract is signed. Participating homes earn the Legacy Standard designation, signaling that our clients’ properties are thoughtfully prepared to minimize surprises and strengthen negotiating position.
Because once a home is under contract, leverage can shift quickly. And if a deal falls apart during due diligence, the home often comes back to the market with added scrutiny, required explanations, and expanded disclosure obligations. That loss of momentum can impact both timing and value for our clients.
Our sellers deserve better than that.
From Reaction to Strategy
Rather than reacting when problems arise, we believe in anticipating them—for our clients, not after the fact.
Strong seller representation today isn’t just about beautiful marketing or competitive pricing. It’s about identifying pressure points early and removing them before they can be used against our sellers.
That’s exactly what our Pre-Listing Inspection Advantage is designed to do.
By completing an inspection before a home goes live, our clients gain clarity early and stay in control. Potential issues are identified on the seller’s timeline—not the buyer’s—and decisions about repairs or disclosure can be made thoughtfully and strategically.
This isn’t about hiding information.
It’s about transparency—with intention—for our sellers.
Why Preparation Protects Pricing
One of the clearest conclusions from our review was this:
Homes with fewer surprises during due diligence are better positioned to help our sellers hold their prices.
This preparation can be particularly valuable for resort and second-home sellers, where buyer expectations—and inspection complexity—are often higher.
When buyers know what to expect:
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negotiations are calmer
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timelines are tighter
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contracts are less likely to stall or fall apart
In many cases, this also means transactions move more efficiently from contract to closing for our clients.
Preparation doesn’t just reduce stress.
It protects value for our sellers—and it’s what defines our Legacy Standard approach.
What Our Pre-Listing Inspection Strategy Includes
This approach allows us to:
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identify potential concerns before buyers do
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keep repair decisions in the seller’s control
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set clearer expectations before offers are written
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reduce late-stage price negotiations
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create a smoother path to closing
Inspection summaries are shared thoughtfully with agents actively showing the home, helping buyers feel confident without creating unnecessary exposure online—while still protecting our clients’ position.
And because we believe in this strategy so strongly, we reimburse 50% of the cost of the inspection and re-inspection at closing for participating sellers. We’re investing alongside our clients—because outcomes matter.
A Thoughtful Word on Disclosure
Pre-listing inspections do require careful consideration and are a key part of maintaining the integrity of the Legacy Standard. If issues are identified and not addressed, those items must be disclosed. While that can feel uncomfortable at first, early transparency often prevents far bigger disruptions later for our sellers.
Every home is different. Every client’s goals—and how a property is used—are different. Our role is to guide these decisions carefully—so our sellers remain informed, prepared, and protected at every step.
Why Now?
Buyer activity typically ramps up just before the Super Bowl—what we consider the unofficial kickoff to the spring market. Our sellers who prepare early are often best positioned to take advantage of that momentum.
As we look toward 2026, we believe this strategy represents the next level of seller representation for our clients:
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proactive instead of reactive
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strategic instead of rushed
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protective instead of vulnerable
Because at the end of the day, our sellers deserve better—better preparation, better protection, and better outcomes.
If you’re thinking about selling in the coming year and want to talk through whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for your home, we’re always happy to have that conversation.
Strong preparation leads to stronger results—for our clients. And that’s exactly what sellers should expect.