From the perspective of a home inspector's point of view there is always an entirely different interpretation of the meaning of this title that from the standpoint of the seller. For a very basic reason that is "we" (the property owners) tend to forget about places in our homes that do not (at at least not immediately) affect our daily lives. As long as we don't feel any major changes in our environment, it's assumed that everything's alright. We adapt and don't detect small, subtle changes in North Town Residency Phase 2. And because, through the years of living in the house that was decorated (in both ways) to delight our personal senses, we assume it's in a good shape, and the house will be sold quickly simply because "we" love it so much.

This approach and this, or perhaps this natural human behavior, has proven to be effective in the past couple of years. Unfortunately for the sellers, given the volatile real estate market making your home available for sale might need that extra ingredient to help successfully complete the whole transaction.

During the recent months I've seen a few customers who used my inspection services two or 3 times a year (it was never that frequent in my 10 years of being in this industry). I'm not sure if the homeowners of those homes looked on the Internet for home selling tips or even preparing the guidelines for selling their homes If you only glance at their appeal and look around, they're nearly ready for move-in with a clean, clutter-free and un-personalized (so the buyer could easier imagine him as the proprietor) as well as rearranged and a perfect appearance ... yet they did not sell. Why?

The current buyers' perspective on the market (at most my clients) significantly changed they appear to be more focused on the hidden areas (behind the walls and below the flooring) as opposed to how neatly your home has been set up or how neat it is.

It's because the sellers didn't check the attic and crawlspace region, it was heavily contaminated with black mold.

Don't get me wrong - the term "Staging" or "House dressing" (preparing your house cosmetically so that it is appealing to the largest number of potential purchasers) is still crucial and is the main reason why you should consider it! That first impression might be the first time you sign an agreement, but should your prospective buyer bring an inspector to inspect the house this signature may start losing its value very quickly. It is possible to, however play the game, but there are many buyers who hire an inspector to inspect their homes, but if he does the inspection, it could be too late to save the deal.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial to look over the following items prior to you put your home to the market? Recognizing the most significant issues is simple and you could make it happen yourself, or ask a trusted friend to do it for you. What you may gain for just a few minutes of your time is to the ability to avoid a lot of frustration, aggravation, and eventually, a canceled deal. If you're dealing with a major problem, it's better to have it taken into consideration prior to listing your property for sale, and you can even boost the credibility of your offer by providing a buyer with warranties from any performed repairs. When you negotiate, you'll typically have to pay more for repairs as it is driven by emotions or time constraints, or just want to get it out of the way with. Even if you do fix it, the deal may just fall through. Buyers tend to lose trust in sellers due to the disclosure, the issues discovered during the home inspection are not necessary (at the present, it's not going to matter to the buyer if you were unaware of the problem).

The most critical and typically the most costly issues to resolve are: mold, roofs foundations that are cracked or leaking as well as heating systems.

1. For the house heating system, it's an ideal idea to have it checked and certified by an approved HVAC contractor. This will allow you to offer a potential buyer an evidence of the service (make sure that it's an up-to-date one).

2. Cracked / leaking foundation - don't write on the disclosure page that you do not know anything about it until you're confident that it is not leaking. Just take a walk along the foundation's exterior and interior, look for cracks and stains / discoloration on the walls at the base. It's a mental approach - many buyers are scared of cracked foundations. They're not sure the possibility that a crack, even tiny, will become a disaster in the near future. As the seller, you're in a position to offer this kind of guarantee. But, the situation is different by hiring an expert (it's an excellent idea to choose a reputable company like US Waterproofing or Perma Seal) and provide the buyer with a warranty certificate - the responsibility for the foundation's condition has transferred to the contractor hired (this is applicable to all types of repair provided that you have the proper paperwork, and believe me it will make the buyer very happy).

3. Crawlspaces - most often aren't a great location to go to, but are often the cause of numerous unexpected situations. If you have never been there , and you are considering selling a home with one beneath, put your light under the floor and at least make sure that is dry, well ventilated, and free of leaks in the plumbing.

4. Roofs - it is crucial and the majority of the "home selling tips" have it listed as one of their top goals. A new roof adds value to your home (make sure that you have no more that 2 layers in place) and secures all the things within the property, however it could cost you a lot of cash if you do not take the time to check what's underneath. It appears that no one does it . If you do have an attic beneath your roof, a quick trip to check it out could be worth around $3,000.00 - $10,000.00 ... to cover the cleaning of the mold - that's nearly double the roofing cost! If you've just replaced the roof without checking the underside, and you do have a mold problem and need to replace the decking (plywood sheets) at the time of the shingles (or other materials) replacement could be cheaper than the mold remediation process in itself.

5. Mold - again look at the attic for mold; The most problematic areas are located above the bathrooms and bedrooms. A lack of or inadequate attic ventilation is the most frequent cause. Examine the surface of the foundation for stains and moisture, or growth of any type, look inside the cabinets and closets in basements, that are on exterior walls or any other spaces that are poorly ventilated.

Depending on your abilities and capabilities, examining those items should not take you more than 15 - 45 minutes, but it can make a difference in time and lots of dollars in deal negotiations - Good Luck.