Sellers usually brace themselves for price negotiations as the buyer’s home inspector combs through the house, but sellers do not need to feel powerless. A pre-listing inspection allows sellers to stay a step ahead in the following ways:
1. Better marketability: You can choose to fix potential defects that could turn off a prospective buyer.
2. Positive impressions: The fact that you took the time to inspect your home and address defects shows house hunters that you’re serious about selling your home, trustworthy and conscientious.
3. Helps avoid last-minute deal breakers: Pre-listing inspections help reduce the probability of complications at closing.
Pre-Listing Inspection Tips:
1. Choose the inspector carefully. Check the inspector’s training, ongoing education programs, any certifications they may carry and if they have all the necessary local licenses.
2. Attend the inspection. A good home inspector will encourage you to attend the inspection because it makes the written report more meaningful.
3. Focus on the major elements. Every home has minor or cosmetic flaws, that you should consider correcting. However, an inspector’s role is not to really focus on peeling wallpaper or cracked sidewalks, although he may document it. In general, anything that would cost less than $500 to fix should be considered normal maintenance. Repairs that exceed that amount are more likely to be negotiable.
4. Be realistic. If defects are discovered, get credible estimates to substantiate your position so that negotiations are substantive and professional.
5. Offer a home warranty. If many of the major systems in the home are working but are older, consider including a home warranty as a value-added bonus.
With the right preparation, you can sell your home in a way that feels fair and straightforward.
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a real estate professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More information is available online at housemaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither HMA Franchise Systems, Inc. nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances.
© Copyright 2007 HMA. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HMA Franchise Systems, Inc.
Filed under Home Inspections, Home Sellers by 
Consumers should remember that maintenance costs need to be considered when purchasing a home. All homes require constant care. General estimates indicate that every home will require between 1 percent and 3 percent of the home’s value in annual maintenance costs, and this figure does not necessarily include major or emergency repairs.
Prevention Saves Time and Money
The ongoing maintenance of a home is a significant contributor to holding or increasing its value. According to Kathleen Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster, “Homeowners should plan a solid preventive maintenance schedule, so problems can be fixed before they become more costly and damaging. Quite often when we inspect homes, many of the damages we find would have been preventable with some routine monitoring and smaller repairs. But left unchecked, minor concerns grew into more significant defects.â€
There are many other benefits for current and potential homeowners when they incorporate preventive maintenance into their annual planning. Preventive maintenance:
- Avoids expensive emergency repairs: Contractor fees rise in proportion to the urgency and the hour of the service call.
- Saves money and aggravation: Repairs planned for completion during off-peak times are less expensive and stressful.
- Minimizes homeowner insurance premiums: Correcting deficiencies before they represent an insurance claim will keep premiums reasonable.
- Eliminates costly consequential damage: When major home components, like a roof, fail, the damage to home interiors and furnishings can be substantial.
- Homes in good condition sell at higher prices than neglected counterparts.
Create a Maintenance Checklist
Every house is different, but there are some common elements every homeowner can include on a regular maintenance list:
- Check the grading and drainage around the foundation
- Seal driveway and walkway cracks
- Check fencing and gates
- Check and trim trees near the house
- Check for deteriorating/damaged siding
- Check for loose, damaged, or missing roofing and flashings
- Clean all gutters and leaders
- Check weather-stripping and seals on all windows and doors
- Insulate water lines that are subject to freezing
- Check condition of the water heater
- Check ventilation openings for nests, blockage
While this list is not comprehensive, it’s a good start to identifying some potential trouble spots in any home.
Do Your Own Research
In order to personalize your home maintenance checklist, it’s important to learn as much about your particular home’s operations. Many Web sites and newsletters contain valuable information and tips, and housemaster.com® contains a wide array of resources for homeowners, homebuyers, and home sellers such as a Home Defect Survey, A Preventive Maintenance Checklist, Common Home Concerns Overview, and Home Inspector selection guidelines.
Even if you are not comfortable making repairs on your own, simply learning more about spotting potential problems can help reduce the extent and cost of contractor repairs. Kuhn adds, “More and more homeowners are calling us to inspect the homes they currently own to help them identify potential problems and develop a plan of action for home maintenance. A home is a major investment. We tend to monitor our financial and investment portfolios quite closely, and it’s equally important to monitor the status of our homes.â€
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at housemaster.com.
This information is provided with permission for general guidance purposes only and as a courtesy of housemaster.com. Neither HMA Franchise Systems, Inc. nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances.
© Copyright 2008 HMA. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HMA Franchise Systems, Inc.
Filed under Buy Your Dream House, Home Buyers, Home Inspections, Home Repairs by
Radon is an odorless, colorless radioactive gas, which is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium of radioactive contaminated soil. Radon can be found in high concentrations in rock and soil that contains granite, shale, phosphate and uranium, or even fill soil containing industrial waste. Radon gas moves through the soil toward the earth’s surface where it either safely dissipates in outdoor air or seeps into buildings through cracks and gaps in the building’s foundation. Radon can also be introduced into a building or home through the water-supply, particularly if there is a private well. Certain building products, such as the stone used for a fireplace, can also be a source of radon gas.
Research indicates that once trapped inside a home, radon can accumulate to the point where it can be harmful to the occupants. Actually, it is the breakdown of radon into what is referred to as radon decay products (or radon daughters) that represents the greatest concern. These radioactive products become attached to airborne particles, which can be inhaled and ultimately cause lung tissue damage and cancer. Smokers are especially prone to the adverse effects of long-term radon exposure.
The potential for radon in any particular home is dependent on a number of variable factors such as the underlying soil composition, the type of construction materials and methods used, weather conditions, and even occupant lifestyle. Radon concerns tend to be greatest in hilly or mountainous regions, and less of an issue in sandy coastal areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) and local health departments can provide information on radon and have maps identifying known radon hot spots. But pockets of radon-producing elements can be found almost anywhere.
Radon levels may vary from season to season, day to day, or even by the hour, as pressure differences occur outside or within a structure. Dramatically different radon levels can be found in seemingly identical neighboring homes. Consequently, the only way to determine if there is a radon concern is to perform a test. While radon kits are available for consumer use, it is generally recommended that radon screening or testing be performed by a qualified radon specialist, especially for real estate transactions.
Even with professional testing, it can be difficult to readily determine average annual radon levels in a particular home. Radon levels tend to become elevated when the air pressure within a house is less than that of the radon gas in the soil. This type pressure imbalance can occur with the use of certain appliances and fans, particularly in relatively airtight structures. Fuel-burning appliances that require indoor air for combustion, or draw in air for other purposes, lower indoor air pressure. This action can result in the radon gas being drawn into the building through sub-surface cracks and/or other openings. The adjacent illustration highlights the common radon entry points for a house.
Since radon gas is naturally occurring, it cannot be eliminated; but it can be controlled. Once the radon level in a particular house is quantified using one of several recognized radon-testing methods, steps can be taken to lower the radon level and the potential health concern. The EPA has established a continuous exposure level of 4 (or more) picocuries per liter (pCi/L) as the action level for remediation.
This measurement does not necessarily represent a safe amount of radon; rather it is a guidance point to determine when remedial action is advisable. It is also deemed the point to which conventional radon remediation methods can be expected to lower radon levels in a building. Radon levels below 4 pCi/L are commonly measured in buildings and generally do not require any significant remedial action (subject to the specific situation or occupant concerns), as it may be difficult to achieve significantly lower levels even if a radon mitigation system is installed. In Canada, the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation considers 20 pCi/L as the guidance level for remedial action.
There are several methods that can be used to lower radon levels. These include ventilation systems, pressurization of the basement air, and block wall ventilation. However, the most commonly used and effective radon mitigation method is sub-slab suction. This method makes use of plastic piping, installed through the floor slab of a house, basement, or even crawlspace, and a low-volume, continuously operating fan to create a negative-pressure within the piping to draw in radon-laden air from below the house and vent it harmlessly to the exterior.
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at housemaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither HMA Franchise Systems, Inc. nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances.
© Copyright 2007 HMA. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HMA Franchise Systems, Inc.
Filed under Home Buyers, Home Inspections, Home Sellers, Sell Your Home by
Many news reports point to the sub prime lending mess as the cause for the housing slump. But home sellers should know that plenty of people with good credit are simply cautious buyers, which can keep sales down. In most areas it’s a buyer’s market, so people can be picky. “Most buyers in this market will try to re-negotiate based on the findings of their home inspection. If the seller is unwilling to make repairs or lower the price, they may walk away because they knew other properties are available,†says Kathleen Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster.
With approximately two million home inspections collectively performed by its franchise offices, HouseMaster is aware of a number of conditions that are more likely to scare buyers away.
But sellers do not have to stand by with their fingers crossed to secure a fair sale.
“More and more home sellers are getting a pre-listing home inspection that helps identify potential deal-breaking issues before the house is listed on the market,†Kuhn says. “This way, sellers can fix problems and worry less about a buyer walking away late in the deal process.â€
According to Kuhn, the following are “The Fearsome Four” when it comes to real estate deals:
- Roofing Concerns: A new homeowner does not want the expense of roof replacement shortly after closing. Many sellers believe that if their roof is not presently leaking it is in acceptable condition. But an astute buyer knows that a worn roof needs to be replaced before it leaks.
- Electrical Problems: Older panels are often undersized and might even pose a fire hazard. Although an upgrade is usually straightforward, the potential fire risk can be scary for prospective buyers.
- Structural Issues: Major structural issues are one of the least common defects found in homes, but when they do occur, they can be costly to repair, and can really stop a buyer in his tracks. Fortunately, there are often repair options that will make the sales process go smoother. But it will often require another inspection by a structural engineer or repair professional, and additional time, to determine what can be done.
- Synthetic Stucco or Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS): Overall EIFS can be effective, economical alternatives to traditional stucco. Unfortunately improper installation can lead to trapped moisture behind the siding. This can cause structural damage and mold, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars to correct.
“Sellers lose some advantage when they are caught off guard by issues, even minor ones. In a market where every edge counts, sellers can use tools like pre-listing home inspections and repair records to show that they are conscientious and have taken appropriate steps to sell responsibly and competitively,” Kuhn says.
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.HouseMaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither Sharon Salisbury, HMA Franchise Systems, Inc., nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local HouseMaster franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances.
Sharon Salisbury is NOT associated with HouseMaster and this information is provided with permission as a general resource for home buyers and sellers in the Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Tega Cay SC area.
Filed under Buy Your Dream House, Carolina Real Estate, Home Buyers, Home Inspections, Home Repairs, Home Sellers by
Despite the downturn in the housing market, millions of homes will still be bought and sold. At a time when price negotiations have become more vigorous, many buyers and sellers neglect one important element that could cost them thousands of dollars: the home inspection. Mike Kuhn, co-author of The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Home Inspections has spent nearly two decades trying to change a mindset.
“Approximately one quarter of homebuyers do not get a professional home inspection for their prospective home,†says Kuhn. “An even smaller percentage of home sellers acquire a pre-listing inspection to help them better present their home in a competitive way.†Years of witnessing costly and avoidable errors prompted Kuhn to help develop a guide to home inspections. He believed that if people knew more about the home inspection process, they’d understand what it includes, why it is necessary, and how to make the most of it.
A professional home inspection can help buyers avoid buying someone else’s problems, and for sellers the home inspection can help them eliminate potential defects that could turn off a prospective buyer.
A professional home inspector will review the major, visible and accessible components of the home and provide a detailed written report rating each element. The report should objectively include information in a detailed manner that allows the client to make informed decisions.
A professional home inspector also educates and provides tips on proper home maintenance. Buyers or sellers are encouraged to attend the inspection. Kuhn adds, “HouseMaster inspectors are specifically trained to communicate throughout the inspection, demonstrating how to operate many of the home’s systems and discussing maintenance needs.â€
More than ever, buyers need to know what they are buying to reduce the possibility of making a very costly mistake. Sellers need to do what they can to make their home standout from the others on the market. The average home inspection costs between $350-$550, but in almost any kind of real estate market, a home inspection is a wise investment. For more information about The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Home Inspections and other home inspection resources, visit housemaster.com.
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Filed under Carolina Real Estate, Home Inspections, Home Repairs, Home Sellers, Sell Your Home by
