A to Z Home Inspection - Sellers Page

Pre-listing Inspections

Having your home inspected by a NACHI inspector before you list is the recommendation found in the new edition of the book, Sell Your Home For More by Nick Gromicko. Eventually your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first. The author points out that having an inspection performed ahead of time helps in many other ways:

· It allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical third-party.
· It helps you to price your home realistically.
· It permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.
· There is no delay in obtaining the Use and Occupancy permit.
· You have the time to get reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified.
· It may encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.
· It may alert you of items of immediate personal concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.
· It may relieve prospect's concerns and suspicions.
· It reduces your liability by adding professional supporting documentation to your disclosure statement.
· Alerting you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home.
· Copies of the inspection report along with receipts for any repairs should be made available to potential buyers.

Tips for Selling a House

Keep it Spare
Get rid of extra furniture (sell or put it in storage) since sparse or empty rooms will allow viewers to imagine their belongings in place. Keep windowsills clear. Store kitchen aids aside to leave the countertops clear, and free space in closets so that clothes are not jammed together.

Keep it Clean
Keeping it clean goes without saying, but don't forget that people will be looking in your oven, closets and in your cupboards. Guests will also notice dirty gutters and windows, so clean these before showing. It may also be time to get a new shower curtain and patch up aging grout. You can buy inexpensive porcelain repair paint to cover up scratches and chips from a local home supply store. You may want to clean out your medicine cabinet and give the interior a nice coat of white paint.

Pressure Wash
If you want to brighten up old siding or a deck, consider pressure washing - the results can be amazing. For a relatively inexpensive price, you can make siding, patios and decks shine. It can make a big difference to a potential buyer.

Neutral Colors are Key
Your decorating style may be drastically different from a potential buyer's. They may stand in your living room silently musing how the busy wallpaper would clash with the couch, and decide the redecorating hassle is not worth it. Neutral colors are your best bet, and they even make a room look more spacious. Consider painting or adding soft throw rugs and towels to the kitchen and bathrooms.

Lots of Lights!
A brightly lit house, soft music and the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the house tantalizes your guests with coziness, making your home appealing. Even if it's the middle of the day, raise every shade and turn on every light. Scatter plants to make the house feel inviting, and light a small fire if you have a fireplace - unless it's sweltering out!

Specialty Pieces
If there is any piece of your home that you wish to move with you, say, a chandelier or large wall mirror, remove it before a potential buyer falls in love with it. You wouldn't want that one item to sway the buyer's decision. At the very least, specify in your listing agreement that it is not included in the sale

Outside Maintenance
Are the bushes frayed or the grass a bit shabby? Are paint chips peeling off the front door and a shutter loose? Repair these items and others if needed. An unkempt property can be a turnoff to a potential buyer. Instead, make it inviting. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges and dress up a front walk with inexpensive potted flowers and a new welcome mat.

Inside Maintenance
Fix broken doorknobs, leaky faucets, sticky windows and cracked concrete, lest a potential buyer think that those things are small clues to greater neglect. Oil difficult doors and other hinges. Cracked plaster should always be fixed, even if it's as old as the house. Does the doorknob work? Many homeowners have grown used to minor flaws, but try looking at your house as if you were seeing it for the first time. It's hard to believe, but making these minor repairs can make the difference between sitting on the market and selling.

Repair Budget
If your home is in the $125K-$135K range, a budget of about $2,500 is a safe bet for home improvements. It's worth it, because the home will likely sell faster and for a higher price, so you should get the investment back.

New Carpet
Believe it or not, many people will not buy a house if they have to put in a new carpet. Replace the carpet before showing your home, if it's needed.

Give Guests Space
Talk briefly with the potential buyers when they come to your home, then politely give them space. They will feel more comfortable discussing whether they'd need a different washer setup or where the furniture would go if they had privacy. Children should be instructed to stay out of the way, and pets should be put outside if possible. It's important that the house be as free from distractions as possible.

Respond to Offers Quickly
Be ready to respond within 24 hours of receiving an offer. If the offer is lower than you are asking, try to remember that it brings you closer to a sale than no offer at all.

Pricing
Your house should be listed for 3-5% of what the broker suggests. Remember that there is a buyer for every home if the price is right.

Disclosure
Buyers are often concerned about safety and heath issues, like radon or lead paint. You should always disclose any drawbacks to your home so that potential buyers know what they are buying. You don't want to be involved in litigation, and neither does your broker.

Picking a Broker
Interview two or three brokers, and ask what percent of the homes they sell are in your area. Also find out how many houses go from 'For Sale' to 'Sold', and what the broker will do to generate traffic to your house besides listing you. Will they attach an information hotline to the sign on your property or list you in the classifieds or on cable? The more avenues the broker uses to generate traffic to your house, the more likely it will sell.

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