As a Realtor, I've seen hundreds of buyers and sellers negotiate costly home inspection repairs. The home inspection can create undue stress and conflict for the parties involved. By taking a few simple steps BEFORE the inspection, some of the drama and cost of repairs can be avoided.
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Remove clutter beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Home inspectors are not required or expected to move things around, and if they can't SEE what's beneath the sink, they can't INSPECT it. You may have to pay for a second inspection or worse, correct an obstructed leak at the last moment before closing. Besides, don't you think BUYERS look under the sink? Clear the obstacles to selling your home, and if you find a problem, repair it.
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Replace the HVAC filter and remove dust from fans and vents. This is so easy, but you would be surprised how many homes I've shown that have a layer of dust on top of the ceiling fan blades. Yuck! If the fan blades are that filthy, how dirty do you think the HVAC ductwork is? Some buyers will walk away at this point unless there's a deep discount for dirt!
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Clear a path to the fuse box. If the inspector can't access the fuse box because of moving boxes or excess furniture, you'll likely be handing over funds for additional inspections or hiring an electrician to verify the homes' wiring is up to code. Remember, an inspector does not have to move boxes, furniture, or televisions to access the electrical panel. Make it easy for him to get to the fuse panel.
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The gas logs wouldn't light during the most recent home inspection. Why? Because the starter remote was in a drawer somewhere between the family room and kitchen. The report stated "the spark igniter did not function", which sounds a lot worse than the remote control was missing. If accessories are needed to light the pilot, or the gas is turned off, or a switch must be turned on, notify the home inspector of this in advance of his visit.
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Replace all the blown light bulbs throughout the house. You should have already replaced the bulbs when you put your home on the market, but it's especially important now, because the home inspector will say "a representative number of fixtures failed to work", and this could raise a red flag. The buyer or the inspector might suspect the FIXTURE is faulty, and not just a blown light bulb.
- Repair EVERY leak from the TOP of your house to the BOTTOM. Whether it's a leaky roof due to a loose shingle, a worn out rubber boot, or a 25c gasket, make the repair BEFORE putting your house on the market. Does your toilet leak or wobble? Replace the wax seal before a home inspector requires a "qualified plumber" to do it for you.
How do I know these points cause issues? I see these items written up on almost every inspection when the seller has not resolved the issues up front.
If your house is well maintained, the list of repairs will be MUCH smaller, repairs will cost less, and the buyer will have fewer issues once the home inspection is completed.
If you are in the market to sell your central Mississippi home, or if you are looking to buy a new home, contact me. Put my skills to work for you.
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