Being a Savvy Seller

You’ve decided to put your home up for sale- congratulations! You have been in your home awhile, so you probably know it best.  So how about having a pre-inspection done so there are no surprises when the buyer brings in their inspector to check things out? 

Often times, an inspection is a dreaded moment for both the seller and the buyer. After all, as a seller, nobody knows all the nuances of the home better than you; creaks and cracks, drips and squeaks, and maybe even the history of that little elusive mouse that has been roaming around the attic. What’s acceptable to one person may not be to another.  So here are a few tips to help ease the transaction and let the buyer know you are a savvy homeowner.

Plumbing issues: If you know the house is having a little issue, make sure you fix it prior to the buyer’s inspector coming through the house.  For example, every time someone is in the washroom, do they need to jiggle the handle to make the water stop running?  Every time the water is running in the sink is it not draining properly?  Get that repaired ahead of time.  Also, appliances such as dishwashers and clothes washers will be run and tested- leaks and clogs will be apparent.  

How about the electrical system?  When one of the teenagers has the music blasting and the hairdryer going, does it shut off the circuit breaker?  The inspector will find it. The electrical panel and circuit breaker configuration should be adequate for the needs of the house. A 125 amp electrical panel works for most homes. Additionally, the inspector will look for receptacles with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFI) in bathrooms and kitchens. These receptacles have little test-reset buttons on them.

The furnace should be serviced and cleaned. Many furnaces are in the garage and pick up a lot of dust, dirt and debris just from the location they are in. Change the filter and make sure the pilot light is working correctly.

Hello? I know Halloween is coming, but do you know what lurks in those dark places?  The attic and crawl space are two icky dungeons many homeowners do not want to venture. However, you better check it out before you receive a picture like the one here.  This is a snapshot of a recent inspection. The insulation in the crawlspace is falling…… due to rodent activity. Yep, they’ve been running around in the maze of insulation. Not a fun surprise. Depending on how long the furry little guys have been taking cover, it could be expensive to replace the insulation, vapor barrier, and seal the entryways. Again, this party in the crawl could have been averted had the seller been checking things out prior to the sale.

All in all, the famous adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies when selling your home.  Happy selling!