Homeowners Who Keep Up With Home Maintenance Have An Easier Time Selling
In today’s market, sellers who have kept up with all of their home’s maintenance needs are finding themselves in a much better position than a homeowner who has neglected theirs. The reason for this is the market change from a “seller’s market” of just a couple years ago to the current ”buyer’s market” (in some areas it’s closer to balanced, but the tide has absolutely changed!). Buyers are no longer saying yes to the “as is” agreement when purchasing a home. It used to be that before listing their home, sellers would put most of their time and energy into things like pretty new paint, updated light fixtures, fresh new flooring and hip hardware. Unfortunately, for a seller in today’s market you still must manage these minor updates, as well as keep home maintenance up-to-date to sell quickly. One of the best ways I know to keep ahead of the curve is to obtain a whole home inspection before putting the house on the market. This gives you (the seller) a chance to fix items that need correction without the pressure of a buyer… and, it makes the buyers feel more secure in knowing that your home is in good or great condition. When you do get a buyer and they get their own report (and they will), the negotiation of any inspection related repairs should be simplified and much less stressful. Buyers are looking more closely at the costs of these things before buying. If there is another home down the street with good home maintenance and not such great curb appeal, in today’s climate a buyer may choose the former – as it will be less cash out of pocket and less headaches for them down the line.
For more information about home maintenance tips see Home Tips.
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