In this hot sellers market, should sellers get inspections before listing?

Should you do a home inspection if you’re selling your home, prior to putting it on the market? I know that there’s so much to think about when selling, and it’s hard to decipher what to do, or what not to do.

Hi, I’m Sabrina Shaw, with Homes By Sabrina with RE/MAX T-town. and I have helped sellers prepare their homes for sale in Bixby West 74008, Jenks, Oklahoma 74037, Kiefer, Oklahoma 74041, Mounds, Oklahoma 74047, Glenpool, Oklahoma 74033, and Sapulpa, Oklahoma 74066, for years. So now that you have spent time preparing your home for sale, why should you worry about a home inspection? Let me tell you why. The home inspection on your home is just as important as your contract offer. Almost every buyer whose contract’s accepted will do a home inspection. Even their lender will recommend that they get one. The home inspection is designed to evaluate the general condition of your home and all its mechanical systems. This inspection can either make or break the deal, so spending a little time on some of these issues before your home goes under contract will save you time and money in the end. Also, knowing what repairs may come up and the cost to fix them will give you a better understanding of what your true proceeds will be. Let’s look at the major issues that often come up on the home inspection. Number one, electrical issues. Make sure that all the outlets, GFCIs, and switches work and replace any broken outlet covers. Also replace burnt out light bulbs to avoid negative observations like “light is inoperable,” on the report that may suggest an electrical problem. Number two, water and plumbing. Make sure that you don’t have any leaky faucets or signs of leaking under your cabinets in the kitchens and bathrooms or on the outside of the spigots. Number three, A/C system. Clean or replace dirty HVAC filters. They should fit securely. Number four, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace dead batteries. Number six, dry rot. Dry rot often occurs around door frames on exterior doors or on the siding of the home. This is common in that they are older and they’ve got a lot of sun exposure, but it can easily be addressed. Also, be sure to remove stored items, debris, and wood from underneath the home and crawl space, as these may be cited for conducive conditions for termites, or they very well might already have termites on them. Also, be sure to trim any tree limbs within 10 feet of the house. Number seven, doors. Make sure that all your doors open, close, and lock easily. Lastly, re-caulk around tubs, showers, and countertops in bathrooms and countertops in kitchens. Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you.

For any clarification on these items, feel free to reach out to me. I’m Sabrina Shaw here at Homes By Sabrina with RE/MAX T-town. If you’re thinking about selling your home in Bixby, Jenks, Kiefer, Mounds, Glenpool, or Sapulpa, then we are your Tulsa County and Creek County real estate market experts. And remember, when you do what you love, people love what you do.