TIPS FOR
MARKETING 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 CHECKLIST
Over the years,
ASHI has identified a list of common problems that typically
appear on buyers’ 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.
1. 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
2. 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
3. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Fixing even minor items can go a
long way toward improving that important first impression of our
home. Hear 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
4. TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Home inspectors also pay
attention to items relating to protection 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 form heaters, water heaters, and fireplaces
5. 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 moved 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
6. PREPARE FOR THE BUYER’S INSPECTION
It’s a good idea to assemble in
advance various house record that can be used to answer question
from buyers and home inspectors. Specifically, you should have on
hand:
- appliance receipts, service
records, and warranties
- information on the age of
major components, such as the heater, air conditioner and
roof
- major component warranties
(e.g. carpeting, siding, roof shingles)
- heating, water, and electric
bills from the previous year
In addition, keep areas clear to
give buyers and home inspectors access to the garage, heating
system, electrical equipment, attics and crawl spaces.
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