Questions From a Seller: How Do Home Inspections Work?
Are you thinking about selling your home and are thinking about what an inspection may uncover or how they work? By being familiar with the home inspection process, you can help it run more smoothly and be prepared for what may come your way. Home inspections are often something most sellers are not familiar with or may have even forgotten about. Though it is not always required, most buyers seek home inspections so they’re sure of what they’re getting — or not getting — in their new home. Before you can hand over the keys to the new owner and move along your way, a home inspection is a good idea for both parties. But how will it affect the sale of your home and will it be costly? Let’s explore. How Do Home Inspections Work? The purpose of a home inspection is for buyers to feel secure and confident that they are aware of any possible defects and minor and major repairs before buying their home. The idea behind doing this inspection before the sale of the home is so that buyers can make sellers pay for any major and costly problems with the home. A home inspection can take anywhere from two to four hours and is usually performed by a specific home inspector, trained to investigate things like a home’s HVAC unit, plumbing, and electrical systems, foundation, roof, and other structural components. It may take several days to get a full report back. A home inspector is also looking for things pertaining to your state’s health standards to make sure everything is in compliance and up to safety standards and code. In general, the buyers, as well as a real estate agent, should be present at the home inspection. The buyer who is interested in your home will generally pay for the home inspection. In some instances, some people insist the seller pays for an inspection if they want to proceed with an interested buyer. On average, a home inspection costs between $300 and $500, though it will depend on a variety of factors like the location and size of the home. Following the home inspection, the inspector may discuss the findings with you. They will provide a detailed summary report of all of the things they found during the inspection, and sometimes photos associated with them. What Happens If a Home Inspection Doesn’t Go Well? Prior to the inspection, there are a few things you can do to help the process go off without a hitch. Make sure you’ve: Addressed any issues with bugs or insects Replaced the filter in your HVAC unit and made sure it has been recently serviced Made sure all light bulbs are working Run water in all sinks and baths and ensure there are no clogs Repaired broken glass windows or screens Before a scheduled inspection, small things can help make a difference to the inspector and make them feel as if your home is well maintained. Addressing minor and inexpensive repairs before the inspection will help limit the report to the most critical things. It may also help you save a few bucks in the long haul. If your home’s inspection comes with some alarming news, you’re not alone. Many sellers are unaware of certain problems within their homes before selling. Most reports that come back following the inspection of a home list dozens of defects, which may be pricey to address It is important to pay special attention to the items on your report that are deal-breakers, like structural component issues or safety/health hazards. How Can a Home Inspection Impact the Sale of My Home? A home inspection may cause some tension between the buyer and seller, as some things will require negotiation. If the buyer is uninterested after the inspection altogether, the seller would have to put it back on the market and start over. This may raise red flags for future buyers who can see the home was relisted. If the buyer is still interested in your home, they may request you address the major concerns before the sale continues. The seller will likely be responsible for the costs associated with making these repairs. A real estate agent can be helpful in navigating these difficult waters, and likely has connections with affordable repairmen and electricians to help you with the high cost of many repairs. If the buyer does want to move forward with the purchase of the home, there may be additional inspections by specialists in the given area of concern. The costs associated with these, and addressing the concerns, are often negotiated by buyers or their real estate agent. In conclusion, going through the process of a home inspection can be complicated, depending on what the report of your home inspection has found. The best way to tackle a home inspection is to aim to fix minor concerns and problems before the inspection and tackle only major issues after you’ve seen your report. It will be easy to identify which items on the report are deal breakers for the sale of your home.
What Buyers Are Looking For In 2022
Selling your home in 2022 is an excellent idea as property values are expected to continue to increase after a record 2021. If you’ve been thinking to yourself, “I should sell my home,” but you’re not entirely sure what buyers are looking for in 2022, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll go over the must-haves to sell a house in today’s red hot market. #1. A Home Office In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are working from home — and loving it! This means that people need spaces in their homes that they can devote to working distraction-free. If you don’t currently have a room that’s designated as the office, consider turning a spare bedroom into an office when you show your home. A simple addition of a desk and office chair to an unused space could have potential buyers racing to sign on the dotted line. #2. A Laundry Room Nearly half of all homebuyers reported a laundry room is essential in 2022. An additional 87% reported it’s a must-have or desirable. What’s more, 63% of homebuyers want the laundry room on the main floor. If you’re looking for a new washer and dryer to spruce up your laundry room, opt for Energy Star-certified models that buyers are looking for. Also, consider adding cabinetry, countertops, and a sink — depending on what your budget allows. #3. A Functional Kitchen Did you know that the kitchen is the most scrutinized place as potential buyers tour a home? Buyers put a lot of focus on the kitchen and its features and functions. 81% of buyers want a double sink, and 81 percent want a walk-in pantry, while 77% want a central island, and 76% want a water filtration system. Buyers are also going crazy for EnergyStar appliances (and windows) to help them save on their electricity bills. More than half of homebuyers report being willing to pay up to $5,000 more for a house if they can save $1,000 on their annual utility bills. #4. Open, Flowing Kitchens Speaking of the kitchen, if walls separate your kitchen from your living space, get the sledgehammer! Today’s buyer wants a kitchen that flows freely into the eating and living space — no separation required! Bonus points if said living space is anchored by a brick or stone fireplace! #5. Multi-Use Garages Spending more time at home has also inspired many homeowners to create workspaces in their garages. That means home buyers want reimagined spaces that serve more purpose than a conventional garage of days past. If you’ve got some extra room in your garage, consider adding cabinets and shelving to transform your empty corner into a workman’s paradise. #6. Outdoor Space The mid-pandemic world also enjoys more time outdoors, meaning homebuyers want outdoor spaces the Ritz Carlton would be jealous of. Fireplaces, water features, pools, sprawling gardens, outdoor TVs, and outdoor kitchens... you name it, they want it! Homebuyers are looking for backyards that are large and well-designed or that have the potential to be transformed into a comfortable outdoor living space. #7. Pools While we’re on the topic of outdoor features, pools are also increasing in demand in 2022, spurred by a historic increase in residential pool demand in 2020 (24 percent). This is another pandemic-related effect as people worry about travel bans and restrictions and opt to turn their backyards into their own mini resorts. Adding a pool is an extremely costly endeavor, so many homeowners are opting to purchase new homes that have pools instead of taking on the out-of-pocket costs of upwards of $55,000. So, if you have a pool in your backyard, you could be sitting on a goldmine that will have buyers offering above the asking price! #8. Exterior Lighting With all these backyard upgrades, homebuyers want to show off their outdoor paradises. Exterior lighting is the second-most wanted outdoor feature for homebuyers. Options for exterior lighting include spotlights, pendant lighting, and walkway lights. Colorful and fun pool lights are also a hit with homebuyers who love to entertain and who have kids. Lighting is also a great safety feature, for example, motion-sensor lights that turn on automatically when they sense movement outside of the home. #9. Guest Suites For the holidays and every day, buyers find it important to have a dedicated space for their loved ones to comfortably visit them. This includes a bedroom and their own full bathroom. Today’s homebuyers are prioritizing homes with large guest rooms, guest suites, or large open spaces that could be turned into guest suites. #9. Half Bathrooms The lost art of the half bath is making a resurgence as people entertain more at home. A half bathroom is a bathroom that only contains a toilet and a sink, no shower or bath. Half bathrooms are perfect for short-term guests to use, so they don’t have to enter your master suite or the children’s rooms or bathrooms and instead have their own area free from bath toys, rainbow toothpaste splatter, and the socks your husband leaves in the master bathroom eery day!
Questions From a Seller: I Want to Sell my House, Where Do I Start?
Whether you’re looking to take advantage of the hot seller’s market or you need to move for professional or personal reasons, you likely have a lot of questions, including where to start! In this post, we’ll go over what you need to know — and do — if you’re ready to sell your home. #1. De-Clutter, Deep Clean, and Depersonalize The three D’s start the home-selling process: de-clutter, deep clean, and depersonalize. Whether you want to handle the deep cleaning and de-cluttering yourself or call in the pros is completely up to you. Just make sure all floors, walls, furniture, and every nook and cranny gets a good, thorough cleaning. While you’re at it, throw away or donate any clutter you’ve accumulated over the years. Finally, it’s time to depersonalize your home. We know how much you love your family photos and mementos, but the last thing you want is for potential buyers to have a hard time picturing themselves and their families making your home their own because it’s filled with family photos and other personalized decor. Now is not the time to display your kindergartner's artwork on the fridge. Take anything personalized down, put it in a box, and get excited to see it again at your new house. #2. Take Care of Simple Repairs and Upgrades If you neglect your leaking dishwasher or squeaky dryer, you’re going to run into major problems — and delays — come home inspection time. Get as much of it out of the way — at least the stuff that’s blatantly obvious — before any potential buyers walk into the door. Make a list of repairs by order of importance, then decide what you can DIY and what needs the help of an expert to get in tip-top shape. #3. Find a Real Estate Agent Now that your home is in immaculate shape, you need to find somebody who will help you sell it ASAP: a qualified real estate agent. You may think that you can sell your home on your own in an attempt to save a few bucks. But, trust us, skimping on an expert who knows the market like the back of their hand is really not worth it in the long run. In fact, on average, homes sold with the help of a real estate agent sell for 13% more than those that are for sale by owner. Start by Googling real estate agents in your area, asking friends and neighbors for referrals, and reading as many reviews as possible. Once your list of candidates is narrowed down, meet in person with your top real estate agents and ask questions on how long they’ve worked in the market, how many homes they’ve sold this year, how they'll market your home, and any distinctions and designations they’ve earned. #4. Get Professional Photos Taken In today’s world, it’s likely that potential buyers will see your home online before they see it in person. This means that your pictures have a big job to do when it comes to convincing them that your property is worth checking out IRL. Your blurry, dimly lit iPhone 8 pictures just aren’t going to cut it! Work with your real estate agent to schedule a photo shoot to capture high-quality, professional photos of your home in the best light possible. A professional real estate photographer knows how to make rooms appear larger, brighter, and overall more attractive. #5. Set a Fair Price Even in today’s competitive market, buyers don’t want to get ripped off and pay way over what a home is worth. Setting a fair price that reflects the market and home value is essential. This is another area where having a Realtor really pays off as we are experts at pricing homes and will be able to help you choose a price that is fair for everyone. You may want to set it at a high price “just to see,” but this can actually backfire because buyers may look at homes that have been on the market a while with multiple price reductions as “faulty.” Set a realistic price from the get-go to sell your house as fast as possible. #6. Put Your House on the Market and Keep it Staged and Clean Unfortunately, once the "For Sale" sign goes up in your front yard, your work isn't done. When you’re trying to sell your home, it needs to look its best around the clock. You never know when your real estate agent will call with eager buyers who want to get in for a last-minute showing. This means you and your family will need to devote some time daily to clean the house, pick up messes, empty the trash, and do whatever else you can to keep your house showing-ready. This also includes mowing the lawn, killing weeds, and keeping bushes and flowers trimmed. You might also want to consider bringing in a professional stager who will add pieces and arrange your furniture most appealingly. We're here to help you with that!
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