Imagine you have the perfect buyer on the hook. They are in love with your home and they can’t wait to move in. Their offer is $60,000 over list price and they’re ready to close. Unfortunately, they notice that the HVAC hasn’t been maintained, there is a small corner with water damage, and the roof looks like it needs to be replaced. This begs the question: “what else are they hiding.”
Get ahead of the inspection and get these things repaired before you risk losing the perfect buyer. Here are a few things that may be expected to be repaired before close:
If there are any issues with the foundation, get it fixed immediately. Do not wait until you get an inspection back before closing to make this repair. If you aren’t getting an inspection done before listing your home, do a thorough walk around your home. Walk around the outside of the house as well as the interior. If anything looks out of the ordinary, get a professional to come do an inspection.
Whether by drone or by ladder, get a closer look at your roof. Make sure to check both sides of the roof for anything that looks out of the ordinary. Roofs should last 20+ years depending on the material used, but strong weather can shorten the lifespan of any roof. Get ahead of the curve if this repair needs to be completed, because it will definitely need to be done before closing.
If your home has a chimney, at the very least, get your chimney cleaned. If you can, get someone to come out and inspect that the chimney is ready for use and structurally stable. The fireplace itself should also be inspected to make sure it is safe for the coming winter season.
Have your furnace and air conditioner serviced before you list your home. It is best for you to get your HVAC serviced twice a year, once before the summer and once before winter to make sure you are ready for the coldest and warmest seasons. If you don’t get regular maintenance, make this a priority.
If a buyer sees water damage, they’ll run for the hills. Water damage could be a sign of something much worse and buyers want to know what they are in for before they sign. Any and all water damage should be seen by a professional as there can often be extensive damage – even mold and trapped moisture – without you knowing. These things need to be addressed quickly for everyone’s safety.
Even a tiny leak under the sink should be fixed. Don’t let a few drops of water scare away a potential buyer. If you see water, find where it is coming from and get it resolved as soon as possible.
Keep all receipts and disclose to buyers what was done, how recently it was done, who completed the work, and what damage existed previously. This transparency will help the buyer feel comfortable knowing that you have done your homework to get your home ready for a new family. Plus, if anything goes wrong in the future, they will know who to contact.
Don’t rely on DIY fixes and always call a professional if you don’t feel completely comfortable making a repair. Faulty repairs can derail a potential sale of your home later down the road. Not only that, certain DIY repairs may be dangerous for you or your home’s future owner.
Costs can add up if you end up needing expensive repairs, it may be easier to sell your home to a professional home buyer like Nine8 Redevelopment which means no repairs, no showings, and as little as a 7-day closing timeline.
We’re here to walk you through each and every step of the process.
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