SELLERS: How to Prepare for and Pass the Home Inspection!
Home buyers may be as unique as
the homes they are looking to buy, but they all share a common desire to ensure
that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it
appears to be. They will have concerns
about the roof, the heating system, the floors and the walls and everything
that they can’t readily see with the naked eye.
In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you
know what you’re looking for. Knowing
what to look for can help you prevent little problems from growing into major
problems.
Defective plumbing can manifest
itself in two manners - leaking and clogging.
A visual inspection can detect leaking, and an inspector will gauge
water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom and then
flushing the toilet. If you hear the
sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes are undersized. If the water appears dirty when the faucet is
first turned on, this is a strong sign that the pipes are rusting. This can result in severe water quality
issues.
An inspector will check your walls
for a powdery white substance a few inches off the floor, and will look to see
if you feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A mildew odor is almost impossible to eliminate,
and an inspector will certainly be conscious of it. It can cost you up to a thousand dollars to
seal a crack in or around your basement foundation, depending on the severity
and location. Adding a sump pump and pit
could cost up to a thousand dollars, and complete waterproofing (an average
sized 3-bedroom home) can go as high as ten to fifteen thousand dollars. You will have to weigh these figures into the
calculation of what you want to net on your home sale.
Inadequate electrical wiring can be dangerous
as it can easily lead to fires. Your
home should have a minimum of 100 amps of service, and this should be clearly
marked. Wire should be copper or
aluminum. Home inspectors will look at
octopus plugs as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.
Insufficient insulation and an
inadequate or poorly working heating system are the most common causes of poor
heating. While a clean furnace, without
rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will ask
and check to see if your furnace is over its typical life span of fifteen to
twenty-five years. For a forced air gas
system, a heat exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is
cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into homes. These heat exchangers cannot be repaired -
they must be replaced.
Problems with the roof (water
leakage, for example) can occur for many different reasons, such as physical
deterioration of the shingles or mechanical damage from a windstorm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water
to run down and through the exterior walls, the external problem becomes a
major internal one as well.
Damp attic spaces are a sign of
ventilation, insulation and vapor barrier problems that can cause water to pool
and form moisture, mold and mildew. This
can lead to premature wear on the roof, structure, and building materials. The cost to fix this damage can easily run
over two thousand dollars.
Rotting wood can occur in many
places, such as doors, window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences. The building inspector will sometimes probe
the wood to see if this is present - especially when wood has been freshly
painted.
Re-bricking can be costly, but left
unattended, these repairs can cause problems with water and moisture penetration
into the home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged with fallen
bricks, or could even lead to a total chimney collapse. These problems are far more dangerous than
ignoring this potential hazard.
A fire hazard is created when more
amperage is drawn on the circuit than was originally intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in a
typical home, with larger service for large appliances such as stoves and
dryers. It can cost several hundred
dollars to replace your fuse panel with a circuit panel.
More than a purchased security
system, an inspector will look for the basic safety features that will protect
your home such as proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the
front door, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in all the bedrooms and on
every level of the home. Even though
pricing will vary, these components will add to your costs. Before purchasing or installing, you should
check with your local experts.
An inspector will certainly
investigate the underlying structure and foundation of your home, as structural
integrity is vital to the life of the home.
When you put your home up for sale,
it is important that you don’t end up with any major surprises. By taking the time to check thoroughly the
items listed in this report, you could save yourself thousands of dollars and
the headache of a lawsuit down the road.
Choosing
your Agent wisely. Any agent will show
enthusiasm and will want to list your house for sale but choose your agent
based upon
- Experience at listing
and marketing houses for sale.
- Ability to use
technology to market your house world wide to buyers 24/7.
- Reviewing with you a
comprehensive Marketing Analysis of home sales in your area.
- Ability to offer a
written detailed 30-DAY
MARKETING PLAN that will get your
house sold at the highest possible price.
Working
with a full-time professional real estate agent is a must. Choose your agent by asking questions of him
or her. Find out how knowledgeable they
are about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that
have recently sold. Can
your agent recommend a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low rates to assist your
new buyer with financing? A good listing
agent can get your house sold quickly at TOP DOLLAR and help you find a
new home.
Thank you for requesting a copy of
this “FREE REPORT”
For prompt, courteous, professional
service, call Jan Wilson:
Office: 1-714-903-7750
Direct: 1-714-719-0048
Visit my
web site at: www.gardenparkrealty.com
Have questions, need advice you can
count on or just want to discuss this further?
Don’t waste any more time; pick up
the phone and call me now! I’m here to
help!
I appreciate your business, your loyalty, trust and your referrals. It is my goal to provide the very best counsel, advice and service possible for your real estate needs. If I may ever be of assistance to you, a relative, friend or co-worker please don’t hesitate to call me. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.™
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