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Two Things Sellers Can Do to Minimize Home Inspection Drama

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Two Things Sellers Can Do to Minimize Home Inspection Drama

When a Bristow seller's house goes under contract, they are relieved.  Whew!  Now to closing.  Their eyes are set on the prize.  

Wait just a second there, you've likely got a home inspection on the horizon.  And if you do, here are some really simple things you can do to make sure you don't get items flagged as inoperable, that you know for a fact work.

Make sure your pilot light is on at  your gas fireplace before the home inspection.First is to make sure your pilot light on your gas fireplace is on.  You have no idea how many home owners simply see a fireplace as a waste of space and turn that pilot off and board up the front to avoid chilly drafts.  And every time, the inspector for the buyer flags the fireplace as inoperable.  This is because inspectors will not take the risk of igniting a pilot light.

Getting the fireplace pilot light on should be a simple thing to do in order to avoid buyer concern down the road.  It is something I advise all of my sellers to do before listing, and remind them again when they go under contract.

The second thing a seller can do is to make sure all burned out light bulbs are replaced.  If an inspector flips a light switch and nothing happens, the light is noted as being inoperable.  There's that stinking word again.  You know the light works.  The bulb is just burned out.  Don't let a buyer get concerned that there may be a larger electrical issue.  Replace all your burned out light bulbs.

These are very simple things to do, but can get lost in the listing preparation and especially in the excitement of being under contract.  Do yourself a favor and make sure the things you know are working are working.  Having been witness to a scared buyer who is convinced there is an electrical problem or a major fireplace issue, these two tasks can take those worries right off the table.  Why give a buyer something to worry about?

 

Comments (18)

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Yes, they are small things but can make a difference at inspection time.

Feb 01, 2017 09:30 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Michelle Carr-Crowe-Top 1% Diamond Certified Real Estate Team Sells Cupertino San Jose Homes-Just Call 408-252-8900 --It's the little things that can cause a huge stir.

Feb 02, 2017 08:41 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Yes, paying attention to the small things before an inspection can make it go much better!

Feb 02, 2017 04:17 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Good tips for sellers which should aid them in getting their homes market ready, Chris Ann.

Feb 02, 2017 05:03 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Thanks Myrl Jeffcoat .

Feb 02, 2017 08:42 PM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Interesting. I just listed a home last week and discovered the fireplace didn't work. Gas was off and the owner said she can't remember ever using it. The good news? At least I'm under contract!

Feb 02, 2017 05:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Nathan Gesner --It's usually a cheap fix, but better to do it now.

Feb 02, 2017 08:42 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Chris Ann and well done. These simple things often cause concerns and money fights that were unnecessary.

Feb 02, 2017 06:44 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Sheila Anderson --Sweating the small stuff is what buyers tend to do.

Feb 02, 2017 08:42 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Chris Ann -- perception is reality as far as buyers are concerned --- simple fixes make a lot of difference.  

Feb 02, 2017 06:55 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Michael Jacobs --You said a mouthful there with perception being reality.

Feb 02, 2017 08:43 PM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - Your excellent suggestions are part of the argument in favor of a pre-listing inspection, provided that the seller corrects everything that comes up.

Feb 02, 2017 10:29 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Dick Greenberg --I'm still on the fence about pre-listing home inspections.  Most sellers get them thinking they won't have anything else come up when it comes inspection time.  Yet, put three inspectors in the same house and they will have varying degrees of overlap and each will have uniquely discovered items.


 

Feb 02, 2017 08:44 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

What causes a lot of panic in Sacramento lately have been missing air-gaps on dishwashers. They should be there, but if they're not, it's not life and death, but the way some agents carry on . . . they scream about "health and safety issues" like everybody's gonna die.

Although I do not agree with Dick above. A Pre-listing inspection is a document we in California would be forced to give to the buyer, and it may contain items the buyer's inspection would never reveal. A competent Realtor is what a a seller in Virgina needs, a person like Chris Ann Cleland to walk through the home.

Feb 02, 2017 06:44 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents --I'm with you on the pre-list inspections.  Especially in our state where sellers don't have to disclose much.  Why bother?

Feb 02, 2017 08:46 PM
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

Hi Chris Ann.  You're right, these are two simple things but they come up in almost every inspection,

Feb 03, 2017 06:05 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Dianne Goode --Anything a seller can do to have systems ready for the inspection is worth it.

Feb 03, 2017 09:11 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Chris Ann

These are terrific suggestions - such little things but boy can they make a difference.

I had exactly this issue come up with the pilot lot on the gas fireplace in a home I sold recently in Carlsbad. So it came up in the inspection report and, not surprisingly, was an item to be repaired.

Jeff

Feb 03, 2017 02:16 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Jeff Dowler --Buyers want to know their gas fireplaces are going to work.  Can't blame them.

Feb 04, 2017 05:27 PM
Alesha A. Wilson, M.Ed.
Buy and Sell Oklahoma LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
Buy and Sell Real Estate with Confidence

Hi Chris Ann Cleland.  Yes, those are simple items ~ but as you mentioned can help reduce the drama.
Seller asked to reschedule inspections due to the pilot light on the water heater being out ~ after we were already in route.  Doesn't seem like a big deal to most ~ but to the indivduals that did not get paid for the time they were away from work ~ Makes it a big deal.  Thank you for sharing.

Feb 03, 2017 08:48 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Alesha A. Wilson --Just like inspectors, I don't make it my job to light them.  That's on the sellers.

Feb 04, 2017 05:28 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great tips for sellers to avoid unnecessary issues that can be easily avoided!

Feb 04, 2017 07:40 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Sharon Tara --You'll have to address it sooner or later.  Sooner is better.

Feb 04, 2017 05:28 PM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

One would think that having a fire going this time of year would be a big plus. Light bulbs should be a given, cheers cvc

Feb 05, 2017 08:24 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Curtis Van Carter --You would think, but so often sellers aim to save money on the gas bill and turn off the pilot light.  Then they never turn it back on.

Feb 05, 2017 09:42 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Chris Ann, if the small things are done it sends a message to the buyer that the sellers took care of the house. On the other hand if the little things are not done they start to dig deeper and have doubts how well the house has been taken care of by the seller. Endre

Feb 05, 2017 01:08 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Endre Barath, Jr. --There are a ton of small things a seller can do.  Another is new toilet tank flappers.  

Feb 05, 2017 02:25 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Easy fixes and one less thing to worry about.  Here in AZ we don't typically have pilot lights - just switches for gas or they are wood burning fireplaces.  Bulbs are an easy fix.  Great job!

Feb 05, 2017 02:45 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Jan Green --We have switches on the walls too, but if the pilot light is out, or the gas is turned off, the switch doesn't work.

Feb 05, 2017 02:50 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I just had one where the inspector flagged almost all the lights as inoperable as it was a REO and none had bulbs, the agent asked for $5000 to redo electric Chris Ann Cleland 

Feb 05, 2017 02:51 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Scott Godzyk --And that's the drama changing burned out bulbs can avoid.

Feb 05, 2017 02:54 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Arrrgghhh on the gas fireplace issue...inevitably it almost always comes up on a home inspection.  Had a listing years ago, the owner showed us it worked, had the pilot light on but the home inspector flagged it, of course, because he could not get it to work.  The owner ended up filming a short video showing it working and saying, "or you can follow the instructions right here...." as he pointed to the instructions that were printed on the fireplace.  I mean, it would not have been more simple stupid to operate, but it did turn into a huge deal.  LOL

Feb 07, 2017 06:14 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Susan Haughton --Had that happen too, where the seller has to prove it works.  

Feb 07, 2017 07:56 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

Thanks Chris for sharing such great stuff on home inspections, I always have mixed feeling as some inspectors try to kill a deal while others are so so at best.

May 05, 2017 06:21 PM