11 High Cost
Inspection
Traps You Should Know About Weeks Before Listing Your Home For
Sale
According to
industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will
come under Scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is
for sale, A new report has been Prepared which identifies the
most common of these problems, and what you should know about
them before you list your home for sale.
Whether you own
an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things
that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If
not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost
you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you
read this report before you list your home. If you wait until
the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will
almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your
home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether.
In most cases,
you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know
what you're Looking for. And knowing what you're looking for can
help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and
unmanageable ones.
To help home
sellers deal with this issue before their home is listed, a FREE
report entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home
Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues
involved.
Also you can
do some of recommendations yourself and save
Selling Your
Home: Where to Begin?
First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your
house when you bought it? What excited you about its most
appealing features? Now that you're selling your home, you'll
need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again.
A spruced up house makes a great first
impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs
their attention and makes them excited about finding a house
that looks and feels well-cared for. Because buyers know they’ll
encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more
appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare
your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on
the market.
A good first impression makes an impact on a
number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to
potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their
friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to
live there. With simple improvements throughout your house, you
can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why
your house is right for them.
Plan Ahead
Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep
a notebook for your selling project, and as you stroll through
your yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what
your property looks like to people driving by or walking through
your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing,
painting, cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your
house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly;
even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far toward
attracting serious buyers. But remember, those seemingly
insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually
discourage potential buyers. Here are ideas for increasing your
home’s appeal in order to sell it quickly at the best price.
Interior
Clean Everything
Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and
out. So clean everything, especially your windows and window
sills. Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and
drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks
from doors and entryways, clean light
fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And
put away your clothes.
Cut the
Clutter
People are turned off by rooms that look and
feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your
house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and
their possessions in your home by making your rooms
feel large, light, and airy. As you clean,
pack away your personal items, such as pictures, valuables, and
collectibles, and store or get rid of surplus books, magazines,
videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider
renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and
attic.
It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but
cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the
end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started
packing for your next move. Make your garage
and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little
tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your
garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house.
Don’t let anything detract from making your
best first impression.
Closets
They’re an important consideration to many
buyers. By storing clothing you won’t use soon, you’ll make
closets look spacious.
Paint
A new coat of paint cleans up your living
space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look
larger, choose light, neutral colors that appeal to the most
people, such as beige or white.
Carpet
Check its condition. If it’s worn, consider
replacing it. It’s an easy and affordable way to help sell your
home faster. Again, light, neutral colors, such as beige, are
best. If you don’t replace it, you can suggest to potential
buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your
price; buyers like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very
least, have your carpet cleaned.
Repairs and
Renovations
It’s best to avoid making major renovations
just to sell the house since you’re unlikely to recoup those
costs from your selling price. Make minor repairs to items such
as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, gutters, loose
doorknobs, and broken windows. Make sure repairs are well done;
buyers won’t take you seriously if your home-improvement efforts
look messy, shoddy, or amateurish.
Leaks and
Moisture
Water stains on ceilings or in the basement
alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically
cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water
problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the
buyer what repairs were made.
Exterior
Curb Appeal
The "Wow" factor — that first visual,
high-impact impression your home makes on potential buyers — can
turn a lookers into a buyer. To determine your property’s curb
appeal, drive through your neighbourhood and note
other properties; then approach your own
house as if you were a potential buyer. How does it look? Does
it "wow" you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers? Note what
needs improving, such as trimming trees, planting shrubs, or
painting gutters. Little things convey that you’ve cared for
your home, and this is your opportunity to sell that important
message to buyers who are shopping from the street, simply
cruising Neighbourhoodsjust looking for houses for sale. To get
them through your door, do what you can to make your property
look like someone’s dream home.
Paint/Stain
If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t
remember the last time you painted it, your house needs some
attention. That also goes for stain that is significantly faded.
A newly painted or stained exterior will help sell your
house faster. And whether you do it yourself
or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.
In the Yard
Grab people’s attention by enhancing your
yard and landscaping. If your house looks inviting and
well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s
attractive on the inside, too.
Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees. Keep
your lawn looking healthy and green by mowing it often,
fertilizing it,
and keeping it edged and trimmed. Clean up
and dispose of pet mess. Weed your gardens; add fertilizer and
mulch; then plant colorful flowers. In winter, keep your
driveway and sidewalks shoveled, de-iced, and well-lit.
Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair
and paint fences.
The Front
Door
An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and
says, "Welcome," so highlight this area of your house with
decorative touches, such as a wreath on the door or new shrubs
and flowers around the steps. For an even grander entry, clean
and paint your front door, or replace it with a new one for a
few hundred dollars. Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs,
repair torn screens, and then put out that new welcome mat.
Keep yourself organized with the following checklist.
Clean and Maintain
Windows, sills, and screens
Walls and floor
Tile
Ceilings
Cupboards and drawers
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Light fixtures
Ceiling fans
Carpet and rugs
Mirrors
Garage
Attic
Basement
Laundry room
Yard
Gutters
Replace furnace filter
Dust furniture, TV and computer screens
Closets
Remove clutter
Pack personal items
Repair
Leaky faucets and plumbing
Torn screens
Slow drains
Gutters
Loose do
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or knobs
Deck boards
Broken windows
Electrical fixtures
Water stain damage
Broken appliances
Damaged walls and ceilings
Worn carpet and rugs
Damaged sidewalks and steps
Improvements
Stain or paint deck
Store tools
Roll up garden hose
Paint or stain exterior
Prune bushes and hedges
Trim trees
Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trim
Weed gardens, plant flowers
Shovel driveways, de-ice
Stack firewood
Clean out birdbaths
Caulk windows and doors
Repair and paint fences
Seal asphalt driveway
Make sure doors close properly
Enhance entryway
Replace welcome mat
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