What do you do when it comes to getting the best price for your home and knowing and understanding the value (or cost) of issues. . Most home owner will clean the home, clean their baseboards, and even go as far as removing unwanted clutter in the backyard, so the home “shows” well. The challenge is selling your home when you continually ignore big warning signs that there is a problem or better yet, leave everything dated and still expect the same price as the neighbor who has upgrade the home inside, inside the walls, and outside.
Professional maintenance is most likely the solution, but so many times Realtor’s ignore the signs because they want you to sign their contract. They figure if there is enough demand, there will be someone who will buy the home and then it’s their problem not the sellers. Whether acting as a Realtor or an Appraiser it is beyond my responsibilities to be knowledgeable about all types of construction issues, but over time their things that make a Realtor or An Appraiser stop and take note.
Some times these issues have already been handled by the homeowner, they just forget how important it is to paint the ceiling, if you’ve had a roof leak and repaired it. Or let a potential buyer know you’ve added drains, when they see cracks in the concrete for a home that is on the bottom of a sloped mountain.
Warning signs that I’ve seen as an Appraiser and Realtor include the following:
(This list is not a complete list, I am sure other Appraisers and Realtors could additional items.
If you are the seller and see any of the above items these maybe the reason you’re not obtaining the price you’ve listed your home for. These are all items a professional appraiser will notice when valuing a home and a buyer may too.
Take note, and review your home for more than dust, and you will be a successful home seller who experiences less frustration with the repairs requests process when you get into a sale contract And, if you are a buyer take note before you buy a home. You will be much happier when the bills to live in the home don’t become the only thing you think about.
For any questions regarding residential home values be sure to vislt www. valleyhomescenter.com. I'm Pamela Evans, Certified Residential Appraiser, License No. 3002198. I work predominantly in Ventura County and Los Angeles County.