Your home, your "CASTLE", perfect in every way! Why wouldn't a prospective buyer or Agent or Home Inspector see it as you do? After all, you are the one that has been living in it and taking care of it and doing all the recommended maintenance for it. Who would know better than you?
There are a few steps you can take to help them see it through your eyes. Do not do cheap repairs to try and cover something up. This could cause concern to the Home Inspector and prospective buyer. Do the following to help increase your home's appeal and selling price.
1. Double check on all the recommended "routine" maintenance for your home.
- Trim all trees and shrubs that are touching the house or foundation
- Make sure there is at least 6" of clearance between the ground or mulch and siding
- Clean dirty gutters and roof
- Make sure the grade of the property falls away from the house
- Make sure caulking is good around windows and doors
- Check all windows and doors for proper operation. Repair as needed
- Make sure no wood or firewood is stacked next to the house
- Re-seal asphalt drive if it has cracks in it
- Replace dirty filters in homes HVAC system
- Make sure all smoke detectors work
- Have the chimney professionally cleaned, and give a copy of the report to the buyer
- Clean or re-place bathroom caulk or grout where needed
- Make sure you have adequate ventilation in crawl space or basement to prevent moisture
- Make sure you have plastic covering the ground in a crawl space
- Make sure no faucets are dripping and all plumbing is working
- Make sure all door knobs are tight
- Replace any damaged screens
- Make sure all light bulbs are working and are bright enough
- Patch any holes in wall or ceilings and repaint
2. Things to do to appeal to the buyer's emotional attitude about your house.
- Keep the lawn mowed and watered
- Plant some colorful plants if appropriate to add "curb appeal"
- Clean the exterior of the house and trim and repaint if needed
- Keep the bathrooms and kitchen area clean, as this area is often a make or break area for a sale
- Open the curtains and blinds to allow sunlight in to create a bright, homey atmosphere
- Keep a pot of water with some vanilla in it to boil on the stove for a homey air freshener
3. Have a pre-listing inspection done by a professional. This will give you a list to work from and help in the presentation of your home. It will also give you a report of these major components and include recommended repairs if needed:
- Foundation, crawl space and/or basement
- Roof System
- Central Heating and Cooling Systems
- Electrical System
- Plumbing
- Exterior of house and grounds
First Choice Home Inspection • 196 West Ridge Dr. • Travelers Rest, SC 29690 • 864-884-4900 • E-mail: LSchmid@bellsouth.net
