Do I need a home inspection, before or after, listing it on the market in Main Line PA? Should you do a home inspection if you are selling your home, PRIOR to putting it on the market? I know there’s so much to think about when selling, it’s hard to decipher what to do or not to do. Hi, I’m Kimmy Rolph and I’ve helped sellers in the Main Line towns such as Bryn Mawr PA 19010, Villanova PA 19085, and Gladwyne PA 19035 to just name a few. I’ve helped sellers prepare their homes for sale in The Main Line area for years. Now that you’ve spent time preparing your home for sale, why should you worry about a Home Inspection? I’ll tell you why. The home inspection on your home is just as important as your offer contract. Almost every buyer whose contract is 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 of its mechanical systems are working properly. This inspection can either make or break your 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 help give you a better understanding of what your true proceeds will be.
Let’s look at the major issues that often come upon a home inspection. #1 Electrical Issues – Make sure that all outlets, GFCIs, and switches work and replace any broken outlet covers. Also, replace burned-out light bulbs to avoid a negative observation like “Light is inoperable” on the report that may suggest an electrical problem. #2 Water and Plumbing – make sure you don’t have any leaky faucets or signs of leaking under your cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms or on outside spigots. #3 A/C system – Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely and have it serviced. #4 Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries #5 Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks, and latches; windowpanes, screens, and locks; gutters, roof tiles, downspouts, and chimney caps. That was a long list!!! #6 , Dry rot, this often occurs around door frames, window frames, and on exterior doors or on the siding of homes. This is common in that they are older and may have a lot of moisture exposure, but it can be easily addressed. Also, be sure to remove stored items, debris, and wood from underneath the home in the crawl space. These may be cited as “conducive conditions” for termites or they very well may already have termites on them. Also, be sure to trim any tree limbs within 10 ft of the house. #7 Doors – make sure that all of your doors open, close and lock easily. Garage doors should also have working safety features like sensors. Lastly, #8 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 more information and to answer any question we are always here to help. We are your Main Line and Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware County real estate experts! Kimmy Rolph sells the Main Line and local areas!
