Selling a home can be a rewarding experience if caution is taken to avoid the setbacks and pitfalls that can hinder the process. With the expert guidance provided here, sellers can easily bypass some common mistakes that they might frequently encounter.
Among the worst mistakes are maintenance issues. Serious maintenance issues are a pain, but they are easily avoided when the seller knows what to look for.
Here are some of the most important home maintenance issues to watch out for:
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HVAC System:
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HVAC systems are incredibly affordable to maintain but can become expensive to repair. Taking steps to keep your HVAC system running at its best can help you sidestep major potholes on the road to selling your home.
One of the first things that prospective buyers will notice when they begin looking at your home, other than the asking price, is how comfortable the home is. According to Bankrate, 40% of the real estate transactions in the United States take place between May and August. They also report that June is the most “seller-friendly” month of the year and that you can make thousands more if you sell your home during that timeframe.
That means that most people will walk into your home, expecting it to be a cool respite from the heat of summer. If your HVAC system has been properly maintained and is working optimally, it can go a long way in getting someone to put in an offer on your home.
Professional retail agents note that an inspector, who is hired by the buyers, will thoroughly check out all of your home’s systems, including the HVAC. Having a system that has been professionally maintained can cut down on the concessions you’ll have to make during the negotiation process.
Plumbing Leaks:
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According to ChristopherGraeve from Florida Homeowners, leaking plumbing can be a major nuisance when selling a home. Water that’s dripping from a home’s faulty plumbing will cause uncertainty in most home buyers.
When repairing plumbing leaks is delayed for long periods of time, it can lead to major damage that might be costly. If a leak goes unnoticed, then a home’s internal framing, drywall, and flooring can be damaged over time.
Roof Leaks:
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Like plumbing issues, a leaking roof can cause devastating damage that will sabotage a home’s resale. A roof leak has an even greater potential to be more damaging than a plumbing leak. A roof leak starts at the top of a house; thus, it can cause destruction to every area beneath it.
Roof damage is usually visible without entering a home if it is missing shingles. However, hidden roof leaks not visible from the outside, but is leaking into a closet wall or behind an area not easily noticeable, can cause the most damage. It’s best to hire an inspector with a thermal imaging camera to see behind walls. This has been a lifesaver for Graeve. If it’s too late for your home, you should know there is a way to sell your house regardless of its conditions, there are real estate investment companies like thelocalhousebuyers.com that may offer to buy your home in as-is conditions.
Electrical Wiring:
The wiring in a home is something most sellers overlook when they are evaluating what maintenance needs to be performed to sell a home. At first, glance, if wiring is properly installed during the home’s initial construction, then sellers might believe that there is nothing else that needs to be done for the remainder of the home’s life.
Although this reasoning appears to be sound, like all mechanical systems, the electrical systems in a house experience wear and tear from normal usage. Therefore, over time, they will need to be repaired or replaced.
If a house doesn’t meet the minimum technical standards set by a lender, then a loan can be rejected. Fully licensed work, meeting all electrical codes, and an electrical system that meets the power demands for the size of the house being sold are only a few of the things to be considered.
Pest Control:
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Professionals also recommends that having a professional pest inspector evaluate the house being sold is an absolute must. If there are rodents or termites in a home, then it becomes unsalable to most buyers as they will be turned away.
Pest control isn’t something most sellers spend any time thinking about unless the pest becomes obvious; however, most of the time, this isn’t the case. Termites hide deep in walls and in structural support beams where they are not noticed until problems become major. Other pests are just as sneaky, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Caulking Doors and Windows:
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It’s easy to miss the fact that some doors and windows in your home may need caulking. In fact, unless you’re specifically looking for patches of missing caulking around these areas, you may not even notice that it isn’t there. Before you sell your home, it’s a great idea to have a professional energy audit performed on the property. One of the things this professional will point out is if your home is losing energy around leaky frames surrounding your doors and windows.
When potential sellers want to know about the property’s average utility bills, having a good seal around the windows and doors is one easy way that you can reduce that number. No one wants to buy a home that’s going to cost a fortune to heat and cool, so this is a quick, cheap fix that can help you make big money when your home is on the market.
In addition to financial repercussions, having proper caulking around doors and windows will help keep unwanted bugs and pests out of your home, cut down on the risk of mold and mildew developing around the edges, and provide your home a neater and finished look.
In conclusion, these simple maintenance pitfalls are all easily avoided. Sellers should stay on top of the maintenance that needs to be done before it becomes a serious problem. With the simple advice given here, sellers can be well on their way to a smooth transaction when selling their home, and avoid the major pitfalls.
