The home inspection is one of the last steps in the home selling process. But if something goes wrong and the home inspector finds issues with your property, it could give buyers reasons to ask for a reduced price on your home—or to walk away from the purchase altogether.
That’s why, if you want your home sale to go smoothly, you should plan to take a proactive approach and tackle any home improvement issues before the inspection. A recent video from realtor.com outlines the key issues sellers should fix before the home inspection, including:
- HVAC. The average lifespan of an HVAC system is about 15 years. If you have any issues with temperature (like temperature changes, stuffiness, or drafts), you should get your HVAC system checked out pre-inspection.
- Electrical. Do your lights dim or flicker for no reason? It could be an issue with your electrical system. Another common issue found during home inspections are with electrical outlets that are either installed incorrectly, or are not the correct type for the location. For example, ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets should be installed in certain areas. Have an electrician take a look and fix any issues before you schedule your inspection.
- Mold. The presence of mold can send buyers running in the other direction. Before you schedule your inspection, have a mold inspector check your home for any signs of mold—and if you find there’s mold present, get it taken care of before your home inspection.
The Takeaway:
Bottom line? You don’t want to lose money on your home sale—or lose the sale altogether—over issues you could have fixed yourself. So, if you’re selling your home, make sure to identify, address, and fix any necessary home improvement projects before an inspector finds them for you.
How To Prepare Your House For Sale
Expert insights on selling it quickly and for top dollar
By Nathan Gesner
Your Local Real Estate Expert
Free Guide: How To Prepare Your House For Sale
How To Prepare Your House For Sale
Expert insights on selling it quickly and for top dollar
By Nathan Gesner
Your Local Real Estate Expert
Do too little and you’ll leave money on the table — or worse, not sell your house at all. Do too much and you’ll lose time or money on things that don’t have a good return on investment. This is why I created this free guide to help you prepare your house just the right amount... ...so you can sell it for as much as possible, and as quickly as possible.
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