THE HOME INSPECTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Tips for Selling Your Home – Is Your Home Physically Fit?
To give Your home a competitive edge when it’s time to sell, make sure it is in good physical condition. This not only makes Your home more attractive and desirable, it also simplifies the negotiation process when the time comes for the Buyer’s pre-purchase inspection. According to home inspection experts, approximately half the resale homes in the market today have at least one significant defect. Routine maintenance is the best way to prevent major, costly problems from developing in the first place. If You have been putting off those repairs, now is the time to make them.
A Home Seller’s Check List
Over the years, ASHI has identified a list of common problems that typically appear on Buyer’s home inspection reports. Early correction of these problems can increase a home’s appeal and its selling price. It also sets the stage for a favorable home inspection report for the Buyer, and thereby helps to expedite the sale. The following 6-point checklist can help You achieve these marketing goals.
CHECK THE MAJOR SYSTEMS
After size, style, and location, a home Buyer’s primary concern is the condition of the home’s basic structure and major mechanical systems. Most Buyers do not want to invest a great deal of money correcting problems in such critical areas.
A pre-listing home inspection of the visible and accessible home components can reveal most of these problems, and include recommended repairs, if needed, on the following major items:
• Roof structure and covering
• Foundation, basement, and/or crawl space
• Central heating and air conditioning systems
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
MAKE MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS
A number of maintenance improvements are relatively easy and inexpensive to make, yet they can substantially improve a home’s appearance, efficiency, and comfort. A professional home inspector may make helpful maintenance suggestions, such as:
• Trim trees and shrubs which touch or overhang the house
• Apply new caulking and weather stripping as needed around windows and doors
• Clean gutters of debris and leaves; repair or replace cracked or broken gutters, downspouts, and extensions to ensure proper drainage
• Replace bathroom caulk or grouting where necessary to prevent seepage and improve appearance
• Ventilate closed basements and crawl spaces, or install a dehumidifier, to prevent excessive moisture build-up
• Regrade soil around the foundation, as needed to keep water away from the house
• Replace dirty filters in the heating and air conditioning systems
• Have the heating and air conditioning systems professionally serviced
• Have chimneys professionally cleaned, and install chimney hoods or caps as needed
PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Fixing even minor items can go a long way toward improving that important first impression of our home. Here are some typical improvements which might be suggested by the home inspector’s findings
• Repair leaky faucets
• Tighten loose doorknobs
• Replace damaged screens
• Replace broken panes of glass
• Replace burned-out light bulbs
• Secure loose railings
• Repair and coat driveway
• Patch holes or cracks in walls and ceilings, then repaint
• Repair peeling wallpaper
TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Home inspectors also pay attention to items relating to protecting the home and its occupants from danger. They can alert You to important safety precautions which home Buyers will appreciate, such as:
• Installing smoke detectors on each level
• Installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s) in “wet” areas, such as kitchen counters tops, bathrooms, and exterior outlets
• Keeping flammable products away from heaters, water heaters, and fireplaces
MAKE COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS
An attractive, clean, and neat home will appeal to a Buyer’s emotions. In addition to making repairs such as those listed above, remember to:
• Keep the lawn mowed and the house neat
• Clean the exterior walls and trim; repaint if necessary
• Open windows shades and curtains to create a bright, inviting atmosphere
• Keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean, since Buyers scrutinize these areas
PREPARE FOR THE BUYER’S INSPECTION
It’s a good idea to assemble in advance various house records that can be used to answer questions from Buyers and home inspectors. In addition to an affordable sales price, they will also want to be sure that the neighborhood and house meet the needs of their family. If You’re on top of repairs You may want to put together a list of the more recent upgrades and information about Your home i.e. new dishwasher, termite treatment, structural engineer evaluation along with utility bills more receipts for work completed and any pertinent warranties in a booklet
Professional, thorough, and committed, AAdvanced Inspections Inc. is keen to provide outstanding service for you to make a confident decision on your home purchase.
Buying a home should mean giving the best for your family. Our licensed and seasoned home inspectors know where to look and what to look for, helping to make sure you are making a safe and sound investment without getting stressed about the financial impact in the long run because you are prepared.
Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or homeowner, our professional home inspectors provide services with due diligence to give you the “peace of mind” you deserve so that you can have the freedom to make the best choices for your family’s future. Schedule your home inspection with AAdvanced Inspections Inc., Today!