We have all heard of the things we need to do to sell our home. Get rid of the clutter, clean it up, blah blah blah… But what are some of the more practical approaches one can take to buffer the effects of the buyer’s home inspection report?
1) Have your HVAC system serviced. Have the documentation ready for the buyers to see when they come to do the home inspection. Let your buyer know that you are aware of the potential age/weakness of the system (should that be the case) in advance. Change the filter! Let your buyers know that the system may be aged, but it is in good repair. This can save you from having to purchase a new HVAC system.
2) Think about having a home inspection done in advance. Consider using a popular local company – one that your local realtors use often. Don’t use Uncle Phil, the fix-it man. Ask your realtor who most realtors use for home inspections. That will lend credibility to your report. Then attack some of the issues that the inspector brings up. If repairs on an inspection report total $2,000, your new buyers might ask for more than that to compensate for such shortcomings.
3) Have your roof checked out by a local roofer. Consider doing repairs prior to a home inspection. Or point out shortcomings to the buyer, and make it a part of the negotiation process.
4) If your state mandates a “Sellers Disclosure” – disclose away. Load it up! Buyers are generally more inclined to accept shortcomings when they are making an offer on your home, than when they are discovering shortcomings during a home inspection (which occurs about the same time as buyer’s remorse sets in!)
5) Get rid of the old paint cans NOW. Your new buyer is not going to want them. Write down the brand name and specific paint colors and hand it over to the buyers. Most paint needs to be disposed of properly. You may not just throw them in the trash. And your buyer is not going to want to clean up your old mess.
6) Prepare a nice info list about your home. Detail when work was done, when trash day is, where the local recycling center is, etc. Make your home “user-friendly” via documentation. Also, providing numbers of local contractors you have used is a good idea. Buyers want to be comfortable with the operation and “nuts and bolts” of the home. Good preparation on the part of a home seller can put a buyers mind at ease, making for a smoother transaction, and a more comfortable buyer. Any experienced seller knows that a comfortable, at ease, relaxed buyer is money in the bank!
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
BHHS Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St. #480, Philadelphia, PAÂ 19106
