After listing the house, this is not the time to relax, this is the time to get into high gear. You know that the house needs to be clean and uncluttered if its still occupied. But now what? The following items can help you sell your house faster, save you time and money after you have a contract signed and reduce items on a home inspection.
The first step is to have your realtor or NVisions Home Inspections, Inc. walk through the house with you, pointing out visible structural defects, mechanical defects, cosmetic defects, and any other concerns that can limit you from selling your house quickly. Make a list and add any other items in this list.
Divide this list into categories by the following criteria:
1. Items that can be easliy performed by yourself or a handyman and not normally taking over a couple hours to repair or fix. These items may include:
Fixing door knobs that no longer latch or may scrape the frame when opened or closed
Fixing holes in walls
Defective light bulbs
Making sure bathtubs and showers are caulked correctly
Securing loose receptacles
Adjusting garage door safety parameters
Cleaning fireplaces
Cleaning gutters
The items listed above are just examples and could include many other possible problems.
2. Items that can be fixed in a weekend or over several days by you or a contractor. These could include but are not limited to:
Rotting wood around siding, doors, or windows
Defective shingles or roof leaks
Nail pops
Damaged plumbing vent boots
Pest inspection
Making sure basement or crawl space is dry
Plumbing leaks
Replacing all defective door and window thermal seals
3. Items that are more significant, these will require licensed professionals. Some of these problems include:
Cracked foundations
Properly located piers
Moisture and Pest damage
Fungus Growth
Cracked Driveways
Begin by working on the first list. These shouldn't take long and will make the house look well maintained and will significantly reduce the amount of concerns on an inspection list.
Discuss the second list with your realtor about the cost/time benefit and repair as much of the list as possible. This will significantly shorten the inspections lists and will limit negotiations to larger items. When considering repairs, the items around the front door or porch, HVAC components, roof repairs, and moisture or fungus in the crawl space should be seriously considered due to this being key areas new home buyers are most concerned with. Fix as much of this list as you can afford.
Lastly, discuss the more significant concerns with your realtor and see if these items can be evaluated by home inspection company or specialists. These areas may or may not be as serious as you thought and can help negotiate these items.
