In a previous post I discussed how best to prepare your home for sale. I went through the nuts and bolts of repairing, cleaning and decluttering, and how best to show your home to the viewing public. But wait, you’re not done yet! You must keep looking through the eyes of a potential buyer.

Once your home is in escrow, there is still a lot that needs to be done. The buyer will spend 2-3 weeks doing various inspections – what we call “due diligence.” This is the last place we want surprises. Any additional repair or maintenance expenses the buyer discovers or perceives will give him or her reason to renegotiate price or terms.

For this reason, I strongly urge sellers to get a pest inspection at the time they put their home on the market. This allows maximum leverage – you can decide to do the repairs upfront , adjust the price accordingly, or simply disclose what might be needed ahead of time. Often you can do a simple repair for a couple hundred dollars, but a buyer will ask for a several – thousand – dollar credit.

For country properties, pumping the septic tank is the minimum that should be done. For maximum protection a septic inspection should be done as well. Failed systems during the rainy season that follows a sale are a major source of lawsuits. Another common inspection for country property is a well test – another way to avoid costly surprises.

A home inspection is another important tool. It gives a snapshot of the home’s main systems and allows you to proactively take care of any repairs or maintenance issues. Many repairs are very inexpensive and simple, yet a buyer will place maximum dollar value on them.

Remember: Surprises cost money… and deals!


Posted by:Deborah Byrne