Prior to Listing Conduct a Home Inspection
Prior to listing your home you should have an independent inspector give the house a once over. That way, problems can be spotted — and corrected — before a would-be buyer ever gets wind of them. Before you have your home inspected you should fix items you know are broken — the little things every owner learns to live with — before they become bargaining points. Your agent should provide you with a pre-inspection checklist so all parties can be as sure as possible that the house is inspection-ready. There are a lot of things you (the seller) can do, but if you are not skilled at certain repairs, even the simplest ones, you should call a professional. Not only can inspectors spot amateurish, sub-par work, they will wonder about the quality of repairs that are less visible. When repairs are made, either by you (the seller) or a professional contractor, it’s a good idea to have paid receipts and warranties on hand for the inspector and buyer. Finally, on the day of the inspection, seller...