| Oh my, what if they find something wrong?!* Over | | | | items can go a long way toward improving that |
| the years, professional home inspectors have | | | | important first impression of your home. Here are |
| identified a list of problems that typically appear on | | | | some improvements which you might consider:* |
| purchasers' home inspection reports. Early correction | | | | Repair leaky faucets* Tighten loose door knobs* |
| of these problems can increase a home's appeal, and | | | | Replace damaged screens* Replace broken panes of |
| it's selling price. Correction also sets the stage for a | | | | glass - cloudy sealed-pane units can often be replaced |
| favourable home inspection report should the | | | | inexpensively, and will drastically improve the |
| purchaser request one, and thereby helps to | | | | appearance of a window or patio door.* Replace |
| streamline your sale. The following checklist can help | | | | burned-out light bulbs, and wherever possible, replace |
| you achieve your marketing goals.* Using the | | | | broken light fixtures* Secure loose railings* Patch |
| checklist as a guide to examine your house will enable | | | | small holes in walls and ceilings and repaint* Repair or |
| you to see your house the way a prospective | | | | replace faded or peeling wallpaper* Repair and coat |
| purchaser or a professional home inspector might.o Is | | | | the drivewayTake safety precautions.Pay attention |
| your home physically fit? To give your home a | | | | to items relating to protecting the home and its |
| competitve edge when it's time to sell, make sure it | | | | occupants from danger. The following are important |
| is in good physical condition. This not only makes your | | | | safety precaution which home buyers will appreciate, |
| house more attractive and desirable, it also simplifies | | | | are relatively easy to implement and shouldn't cost a |
| or elimates the negotiation process when the time | | | | lot. And they'll create a great impression!* Installing |
| comes for the buyer's pre-purchase | | | | good quality smoke detectors* Installing a good |
| inspection.According to home inspection experts | | | | quality carbon-monoxide detector* Ensure adequate |
| everywhere, approximately half of the resale homes | | | | outdoor lighting, especially in suburban and rural |
| on the market today have at least one significant | | | | locales* 'GFCI' outlets outdoors and in wet locations |
| defect. Routine maintenance is the best way to | | | | such a bath & laundry areas.* Keep the stairwells tidy |
| prevent major costly problems from developing in | | | | and free of debris and obstructions, and leave plenty |
| the first place. So, if you've been putting off repairs, | | | | of clearance around the garage door, electrical panel |
| now is the time to catch up, as quick as you can!To | | | | and furnace.* Keep flammables and combustibles |
| identify which components are most in need of | | | | away from the furnace and other utility areas.* If |
| repair, many sellers now enlist professional home | | | | you have direct entry from the garage to the interior |
| inspectors before putting up the 'For Sale' sign.* | | | | of the home, consider installing a hydraulic or other |
| What is a home inspection?A professional home | | | | form of auto-closure device on the door.* Check the |
| inspection is an objective, in-depth visual examination | | | | 'down' tension on garage door openers, and ensure |
| of a home's structure and operating systems, and | | | | that the door reverses without an excessive amount |
| should result in a detailed report describing the | | | | of pressure.Make cosmetic improvements.An |
| condition of the home. The main intent of a home | | | | attractive, clean and tidy appearance will enhance |
| inspection is to educate the client as to the physical | | | | your home's appeal. In addition to making any |
| condition of the home.o No house is perfect, and a | | | | necessary repairs, remember to:* Keep the lawn |
| home inspection is not intended to identify every little | | | | mowed and the house 'picked-up'* Clean the exterior |
| blemish or minute surface imperfection. The | | | | walls & trim, and wash the windows squeeky clean.* |
| concientious home inspector tries to discover if there | | | | Open the shades and curtains to create a bright, |
| are major defects in a home that the client, and | | | | inviting atmosphere.* Pay particular attention to the |
| perhaps no one else, is aware of - and should also | | | | cleanliness and comfort of the kitchen and |
| point out the positive aspects of a house. A good or | | | | bathrooms.Prepare for the buyer's inspection.More |
| better than average report can be a good marketing | | | | and more purchasers are requesting pre-purchase |
| tool for vendors and their agents.Print this list and | | | | inspections. It's a good idea to assemble in advance, |
| check it twice:Check the major systems.After size, | | | | the various house records that can be used to |
| style and location, a home buyer's primary concern is | | | | answer questions from the purchaser and their |
| the condition of the basic structure and major | | | | inspector.You should try to have on hand:* Appliance |
| electro-mechanical systems. Most buyers do not | | | | receipts, service records and warranties* Information |
| want to invest a great deal of money correcting | | | | on the age of major components such as the roof |
| problems in such critical areas. A thorough | | | | coverings, furnace, air-conditioner, etc.* Major |
| investigation of the following major items should be | | | | component warranties (e.g. roofing, siding, windows, |
| made in order to determine if they are serviceable:* | | | | carpeting furnace and other appliances* Heating, |
| Roof structure and covering* Foundation, basement, | | | | water and electric bills from at least the past 12 |
| and/or crawl space* Central heating and air | | | | monthsHow did your house make out?Hopefully, this |
| conditioning systems* Electrical system* Plumbing | | | | home seller's checklist has helped you gain a clearer |
| systemMake maintenance improvements.The | | | | knowledge of your home's overall condition - from a |
| maintenance improvements listed below are relatively | | | | buyer's perspective. Now you can make repairs or |
| easy and inexpensive to make, yet they can | | | | improvements will will increase your home's |
| substantially improve a home's appearance, efficiency | | | | marketability. And remember, you ARE marketing |
| and comfort.* Trim trees and shrubs which touch or | | | | your house - you probably wouldn't try to sell your |
| overhang the house.* Apply new caulking and | | | | car without making it clean and ready. It just makes |
| weatherstripping as needed around windows and | | | | good sense! Of course, even if your house is already |
| doors.* Clean gutters of debris and leaves, repair or | | | | in optimum condition, a professional home inspection |
| replace cracked or broken gutters, downspouts and | | | | can also be a good marketing tool. Just leave a copy |
| extensions to ensure proper drainage* Replace | | | | of the report on the kitchen table for agents and |
| bathroom caulk or grout where necessary to prevent | | | | purchasers to read.Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights |
| seepage and improve appearance.* Ventilate closed | | | | reserved.Gil Strachan is a professional home |
| basements and crawl spaces, or install a dehumidifier | | | | inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection |
| to prevent excessive.* Regrade soil around the | | | | Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. |
| house to prevent ponding of water next to the | | | | Visit to learn more about home inspections."The |
| foundation* Replace dirty filters in the heating and | | | | Home Reference Book" |
| ventilating systems* Have the heating, ventilating and | | | | You can probably find a home inspection for a little |
| air-conditioning systems professionally serviced* Have | | | | less than what we ask, but you probably won't find |
| chimneys professionally cleaned & inspected, and | | | | the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this |
| install chimney hoods and caps as required. For | | | | solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with |
| wood-burning installations insist on a WETT Certified | | | | every inspection we perform.It's the first tool you |
| Technician.Pay attention to details.Fixing even minor | | | | should have around the house! |