Most people would think about the inspection of their home the day before the home inspector is scheduled to arrive. But if you are planning to sell your home it is always good practice to take care of some of the potential issues before you put your house on the market.
Is the banister to the deck and/or the stairs loose? Is there chipping paint on the window frame? If the house was built before 1978, lead-based paint is a concern. And depending on the loan type, it may be a requirement that this be fixed.
Anything that is a potential safety risk is always a good idea to fix right away. Not only will it reduce your liability before potential buyers visit your home, but by not fixing the issue, you may lead someone who is interested in your home to change their mind. What sellers sometimes don’t realize about buyers is that most of them prefer to buy a home that they see as being free from burdens.
You want to replace any cracked or missing glass in windows. Again, for safety reasons, but also many sales contracts require this be fixed by the seller. Ours in the Greater Greenville area does, and it also requires repairs of:
- Any active leaks. Not only should you repair the leak, but repair any cosmetic damage as a result of the leak. Nothing will scare a buyer off quicker than a leaky roof, leaky ceiling or a leaky anything for that matter!
- Issues with your heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems and any appliances that will remain in the home. Repair it. Not only in operative condition but one where it functions as it should!
If you are not sure what may be considered a safety risk or an item that you should fix before the inspection, ask your Realtor to walk through the home with you. They may see something that you may not have thought of and may more easily be able to see red flags and concerns as a buyer would.
By Amanda Serra
I am a big proponent of taking care of repairs before they become a surprise. I walk through my properties with my clients prior to the home inspection and most of the time at the point of listing. I have a checklist that I provide them with and it includes many items that come up in an inspection. My husband, Jay is a home inspector with Home Energy Solutions of the Triad. He has given me a checklist that has really come in handy. I encourage all my sellers to have a pre-inspection as this really is a step-up for them in negotiatons as well as shows the buyers that they are proactive in completing repairs. Take the surprise of necessary repairs out of the negotiation process has greatly improved fall-throughs in today's market.
July 26th, 2011 at 10:55 am
We recommend that realtors carry a simple $7 circuit tester, and use it to do a quick check of the outlets in a house. It's an easy way to spot potential electrical problems even before the Home Inspection phase. It really is amazing how many of the defects in a house could have been remedied by a quick ten-minute fix. But many homeowners become used to the "quirks" of their homes, and learn to live with them rather than go to the effort of fixing them.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Great suggestions Bobbie! You are right, doing a pre-inspection can help eliminate surprises later on, make for a smoother negotiation process, and also help the Realtor market the home more effectively. I know your sellers are certainly in good hands with you!
July 27th, 2011 at 9:44 am
Welmoed, fantastic suggestion! You are exactly right, homeowners get used to "quirks" in their homes. They become so used to them that after a while, they almost don't even see them as an issues any longer! Buyers and Inspectors still do though!. Both your suggestion and Bobbie's ( of a checklist and a pre-inspection) are great. The more that can be discovered (and fixed) early-on, the better and smoother the process will be.
July 27th, 2011 at 9:50 am