Fix it before you List it!

Thinking about listing your home for sale? Do a walk through with your agent a week or two before the list date. We spend a lot of time talking about “Staging” your home for sale, but what about repairs?

Generate a list of things in your house that need fixed, repaired or replaced before you put it on the market, here’s why:

  1. Potential buyers will guess high for the repair, usually 3 times higher than actual cost. They will then try to reduce the price by that inflated amount.

  2. When the home is inspected it will show up on the inspection report which here again calls into question cost of repair plus one more task that you as the seller may have to accomplish prior to closing.

  3. When the appraiser comes out the needed repair will only call for closer scrutiny. Example: moss on the roof. A perfectly good roof may be called into question only because the moss on it drew the appraiser’s attention to it, thus forcing him to call for an additional roof inspection.

The goal is not to try to hide anything, rather to address items that are likely to be brought into question and may jeopardize a good offer or at least slow down the closing.

Regarding disclosure, you are typically better off to disclose any issues up front. Buyers will typically feel short changed or taken advantage of if they learn of a pre-existing problem late in the transaction. Most states have a property disclosure statement that needs to be provided by the seller. Filling one out fully and honestly will protect you as the seller by reducing legal issues down the road with the buyer. Talk with your agent or your real estate attorney for specifics in your area.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

very good advice. Too many people don't take the time to do this and never sell their homes. Especially FSBOs.