When you put your home on the market, one of the most critical pre-sale processes you should know about is a home inspection.
Buyers often arrange for a professional home inspection after a purchase agreement has been signed and before closing to make sure the property is in the condition the seller presents. If any problems are found during the inspection, there could be a renegotiation of the price and terms of the sale, or the buyer might decide to exit from the contract.
To avoid this, it’s best to have your home inspected before listing it. This can not only help you in making your home more attractive and desirable; it will also give you confidence down the road when negotiating repair costs with potential buyers.
Here are steps you can take to make sure your home is ready for a pre-sale inspection.
- Hire a professional to inspect your home before listing it
Unless you’re completely sure your home is in top condition, hiring a knowledgeable and experienced professional to do a thorough inspection is a wise investment. Have the most important systems and structural features checked, including:
- Roofing
- Foundation, crawl spaces, basements, attics, and garages
- Gas, electricity, and plumbing
- Heating and cooling
- Appliances
You may also need separate inspections for high end features and amenities like a swimming pool, home entertainment system, and home security systems.
- Do all the needed repairs
Pay attention to even the smallest details, such as loose doorknobs, leaky faucets, burnt out lightbulbs, cracks on walls, broken window panes, and peeling wallpaper. Make sure all problems and defects are fixed. If there are too many of these seemingly small problems, they can give the impression that your home has not seen proper maintenance.
- Identify and make needed home improvements
Outdated home features can make your home less desirable. Consider investing in home improvements that will bring your home up to par with other properties in your neighborhood.
Most buyers today pay closer attention to kitchens and bathrooms, so they’re good places to start when doing home renovations. Mid-range improvements, including re-facing cabinets, changing the hardware, and updating the fixtures, are recommended over expensive transformations that may not allow you to recoup your investment.
Simple cosmetic improvements can also go a long way toward making your home more attractive. Some of the things you can do include:
- Giving your walls a new coat of paint
- Keeping the home spotless
- Opening windows and shades to let natural light in
- Keeping the lawn trimmed and neat
- Washing or changing the carpeting
- Install safety devices
Buyers appreciate safety measures in homes, so adding them or updating existing ones can give your property an edge over the competition. These are some of the features you might want to include:
- Fire and carbon monoxide detectors
- Secure door locks and smart security features
- Outdoor lighting for safety and security
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters for areas in the kitchen that often get wet
- Prepare the documents on previous maintenance works
Home inspectors will want to know all the repair and maintenance works that went into the house since it was built. Be prepared with previous inspection reports for all systems, as well as all repair and maintenance records. Include any insurance claims you’ve made, and show proof that you have taken care of the problems covered by the claims.
Selling your home in Los Angeles? I can help you with the necessary preparations to make it even more attractive and desirable to homebuyers. Get in touch with me, Sasha Rahban, at 310.963.9680 or send me a message.
