Dec. 7, 2025
What Inspections Are Required When Selling a Home in California?
If you are preparing to sell your home, one of the most common questions that comes up is: What inspections are required when selling a home in California?
The short answer is that California does not require sellers to complete inspections before listing, and here in Santa Clarita there are no retrofit requirements. However, what is required and what is strategic are often two very different things. After years of selling homes in Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch, Valencia, Saugus, Castaic, Acton and Agua Dulce, I have learned that the right inspection plan can prevent surprises, reduce negotiation drama and protect a seller's bottom line.
This guide breaks down what is legally required, what I recommend to sellers, real stories from my clients and why proactive preparation matters.
What California Requires When Selling a Home
While full property inspections are not mandatory, each region has different point of sale requirements. For example, when selling a home in Los Angeles city limits (not LA County as a whole), there are retrofit requirements that must be completed before closing. These requirements are focused on water conservation and safety compliance, and they are designed to bring older homes up to current standards.
However, in Santa Clarita, sellers are only required to meet certain safety requirements. Before closing, a home must have:
Required Point of Sale Items when Selling a Home in Santa Clarita
• A water heater that is double strapped
• Smoke detectors inside every bedroom and on each level
• Carbon monoxide detectors on every level near sleeping areas
Outside of these safety items, no inspections are legally required for listing or selling. That said, strategic pre listing inspections can save money, prevent escrow delays and reduce renegotiations later.
Why I Often Recommend Certain Inspections Before Listing
Many sellers wait for buyers to order inspections during escrow. The challenge is that once a buyer finds an issue and documents it, the seller must disclose it to future buyers. If that buyer cancels, the next buyers come in with more leverage and often more concerns.
For this reason, I often recommend that my Santa Clarita clients consider completing two key inspections before accepting an offer:
Smart pre listing inspections
• Termite inspection
• Chimney inspection
These are the two areas where I see the most manipulation in escrow and negotiation games. If buyers bring in aggressive (or unscrupulous) inspectors, reports can sound alarming even when issues are minor. When sellers already have clear reports from a reputable inspector, buyers understand the condition upfront and negotiation tends to stay fair and straightforward.
Case Study: A Pre Listing Inspection That Saved a Deal
A recent listing in Valencia is a great example. The sellers had already moved out of the country and the home had been a rental. During preparation, we noticed error messages on the Nest thermostats. Instead of waiting for a buyer to discover it, we brought out HVAC technicians right away with the permission of the sellers.
Both air conditioning systems had leaks, but because the sellers had a home warranty, repairs were handled quickly well before buyers arrived. When buyers completed their inspections, everything was running properly and there was no escrow disruption. A proactive inspection protected the sale.
When Skipping Inspections Causes Stress
I also have examples where skipping inspections created challenges. One seller in Santa Clarita had two fireplaces and decided not to bring in our chimney inspector before listing because the process felt overwhelming.
Once in escrow, the buyer's inspector claimed there were $25,000 of needed repairs for each chimney. We knew this was inaccurate. We brought in our trusted chimney contractor with more than 40 years of experience who filmed a video explaining the real condition. The sale eventually moved forward, but the situation caused unnecessary stress that could have been prevented with a simple pre listing inspection.
Inspections Buyers Commonly Order in Santa Clarita
Even though sellers are not required to complete inspections, buyers almost always will. In Santa Clarita, the most common inspections include:
Standard buyer inspections
• General home inspection
• Termite inspection
Based on the findings, age of the home and visible conditions, buyers may also order:
Additional inspections depending on condition
• Roof evaluation
• HVAC system inspection
• Plumbing or sewer line scope
• Chimney inspection
• Pool system inspection
• Foundation or structural review
Rural areas like Acton and Agua Dulce sometimes require well and septic evaluations, and pool homes benefit from a pre sale cleaning and equipment tune up. Small maintenance steps, such as changing HVAC filters, often prevent large credit requests later.
How My Team Handles Inspections for Sellers
Clients often tell me this is where they feel the most supported. My team coordinates inspection appointments, meets inspectors at the property and brings in contractors when needed. Every vendor we recommend is someone we trust and have worked with for years. They are honest, reasonable and communicate clearly.
When an inspection reveals something that needs attention, we help sellers evaluate choices. Most of the time with these issues, we just need more information to clearly determine what the best resolution would be. Sometimes a small repair resolves the concern. Other times a small credit or price adjustment makes more sense. Sometimes, saying no to a repair request is the best answer. Our goal is a solution that benefits both buyer and seller without unnecessary cost or stress.
For relocation clients and out of state owners, we act as eyes on the ground and manage the process fully, making decisions with care as if the home were our own.
Do Inspections Increase Value?
In many cases, yes. Especially in established neighborhoods like the Valencia Summit where homes are nearing 35 years old and many owners are original, pre listing preparation combined with thoughtful updates has consistently resulted in stronger offers and smoother escrows. Buyers feel confident when they can review reports upfront and understand the true condition of the home.
Final Thoughts for California Home Sellers
While no inspections are required when selling a home in California, smart preparation can protect you from last minute surprises and negotiation pressure. Termite and chimney inspections in particular help set expectations early and prevent inflated repair requests once you are in escrow.
If you are thinking about selling your Santa Clarita area home and would like help deciding which inspections make sense for your property, I would love to guide you. A quick conversation can save thousands and make sure your sale moves forward smoothly and confidently.
To get an idea of your homes value, visit our website or reach out directly!
Call us at (661) 714-2772 or email at Holly@SCVHolly.com
Holly Thompson
Holly Thompson Homes
RE/MAX of Santa Clarita
DRE #01825192
