Home inspectors are a line of defense between home buyers and a bad deal or home sellers and the best possible price. A normal home inspection often reveals issues that the homeowner wasn’t aware of because they didn’t know what to look for; which is what we’re going to talk about today. I won’t be telling you how to do my job, per se, but you will know some basic things to look for before you call me to perform an official inspection.
Overall Appearance
Step back to the curb and look at your home from a distance. Don’t look at it through the eyes of a proud homeowner; look at it as if you were considering the purchase yourself. Does it look like something you would invest money into? Do you think it needs any work? Does the siding look relatively new and in good repair? Does the roofing material look uniform in color?
A Closer Look at the Roofing
Brittle or worn roofing materials are generally something a home buyer will want repaired or replaced before they agree to purchase the home. You can make concessions regarding the roofing if you know that it needs repair before you list the home for sale. Consider reducing the asking price or offering something valuable in return for the worn roofing.
Windows and Doors
Check all windows and doors and make sure they’re all in good repair and properly functional. Broken or nonfunctional windows and doors are not what today’s home buyer is looking for. Consider changing the hardware on the doors to make them more attractive.
Examine Your Appliances
Make sure they’re clean and in working order. Any appliance that is not in working order should be repaired, replaced, or removed. Consider offering a gift card to the local home improvement store as compensation for appliances that do not work.
Take a Look Under the House
Crawl space should be dry and there shouldn’t be any signs of pests or insects. Any sign of insects should be taken care of immediately and an exterminator called for pests.
The Bottom Line
When you’re planning to sell your home, don’t look at it like you normally do. I understand taking pride in your home and property, and you’ve probably taken a lot of time to make it look great. But look at it with a very critical eye or as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Pretend you’re the one buying it and ask yourself if you feel it’s worth the investment.
Call PrimeSpec Consulting for a Home Inspection
Don’t think you’re getting out of it that easy; you still need an official home inspection if you’re selling your home. Most home buyers won’t touch a home without an inspection, so it’s often easier to provide an unbiased inspection on your own instead of requiring prospective buyers to do it. Give me a call at 480-570-5615 if you’re in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa or the east valley area and need to schedule a home inspection.
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