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Selling your home |
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As you put
your house on the market, here are some things you can
do to improve the presentation of your house. These are
items you can do prior to your home being professionally
inspected by the buyer-selected house inspection company.
Approximately 45% of the houses sold will have an inspection.
The typical house inspection does not cover cosmetics
such as clean carpets and fresh paint. It will cover the
functionality, safety, and livability of the house. It
is not intrusive (no screwdrivers in the walls).
The typical home inspection covers the exterior, walls,
roof, outside equipment, and the interior, windows, kitchen
appliances, bathroom fixtures, etc. It will take an estimated
hour for every 1,000 square feet with a two hour minimum.
Assuming your house will be inspected, here is a list
of recurring items you can address up front:
Faucets and pipes. You may be quite willing to live with
that dripping or leaking faucet, but don't assume the
buyer will. Windows. Cracked glass or leaking seals on
dual pane windows are not acceptable to most buyers.
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Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupters (GFCIs) should be in working order.
To test them, push the test button. This turns the
power off to the outlet. Plug in an appliance and
make sure. Press the reset button and the appliance
should now work. Older houses may not have GFCIs.
If you have them, they should work.
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Toilets. Check for
leaks and cracks in toilet bowls. Make sure they
are not loose. Extension cord or handyman wiring.
If you've been inventing your own wiring out on
the patio or in the garage, it can be a negative
issue. If any wiring is exposed it should be in
a conduit, a junction box or sealthe to protect
it. A/C Filters. Change them. Dirty air filters
affect the performance of the heating/cooling system.
Consider having the unit serviced and cleaned so
that it will operate properly when tested.
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Pool, pool filters and pool lights.
Check for cracks and rust in the pool plaster. Make
sure the pipes and filters are not leaking and that
the gauges work. Ensure the pool lights work. |
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Hot water. The hot water should
always be on the left side in sinks, tubs and showers. |
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Roofs. Any missing shingles or
tiles should be replaced. Any flashing that needs
resealing should be resealed. |
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Doors. They should latch and lock,
if a lock is installed. |
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Two additional
points: Listen to your realtor. They see many properties
and other houses competing with yours for the buyers'
attention. As you fill out the sellers' property isclosure
statement (SPDS), ask them about any issues that come
up. Also, consider having a house inspection at the time
you list your house. Pre-inspected houses typically move
faster from offer to escrow - an average often days quicker.
With a house inspection report in hand, you and your
realtor can determine in advance which items you'd be
willing to address. Plus, you'll have a better sense that
your "price" is in line with the overall condition
ofthe property.
When you sell a house, whatever you can do to "accentuate"
the positive and eliminate the "negative"
is to your advantage.
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Selling
your home | The
10 deadly sins | Home
warranty |
Suggestions to the seller | Home
inspection |
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