Benefits To Home Sellers

You usually want an inspector's opinion when you are considering buying a home, but an inspection can help you as a seller, too.

A pre-sale inspection can alert you to problems that could complicate a potential sale. "Fixing the problems in a home before listing not only makes the property more attractive and desirable, it also simplifies the negotiation process when the time comes for the buyer's pre-purchase home inspection," says Martin Kent of Fairhome Building Inspections Inc. in Victoria.

"A buyer primarily wants assurance that the home is structurally sound and its roof, electrical and mechanical systems are in good condition," according to Kent.  "And in a buyer's market the prospective owner can be choosy, picking a home that doesn't require a lot of time and money to repair."

Kent estimates that about half of all homes in the resale market have at least one significant defect, and nearly all homes need some maintenance and repair work.

• Improper grading and drainage around the home - the leading cause of foundation water penetration.  According to Kent, this is the "Number One Problem."

• Electrical systems with insufficient service to the home, inadequate overload protection, and amateur and potentially dangerous wiring connections.  Braid says these are relatively inexpensive to fix.

• Roofs that are worn or have improper flashing.

• Trees and shrubs that touch or overhang a home and need trimming.

• Windows and doors that need new caulking and weather-stripping.

• Gutters that need cleaning and repair or replacement, including downspouts and extensions for proper drainage.

• Inadequate ventilation resulting in mildew and moisture damage around windows.

• Bathroom caulk or grout that is crumbling and needs replacement to prevent seepage and improve appearance.

• Kent points out that looking after even minor problems can improve a prospective buyer's impression of the home.  Sellers should remember to repair leaky faucets, tighten loose doorknobs, replace damaged screens and broken windows and trim.

• Other items that will make your home more saleable include smoke detectors on every level, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters in "wet" areas like bathrooms, decks and garages and removing the clutter, inside and out, so potential buyers can see more of the home.

Early correction of problems can increase a home's appeal, and protect its selling price.  Correction also sets the stage for a favourable home inspection report should the purchaser request one, and thereby helps to assist the sale.

Fairhome Building Inspections serves Victoria B.C., Saanich, Sooke, Metchosin, Langford, Sooke, Colwood, Sidney, Millstream, Shawnigan Lake, MillBay, Cobble Hill and other parts of Lower Vancouver Island