Busy Market Sellers tips for a Home Inspection in Greater Vancouver
What a beautiful week in the Lower Mainland! This daylight savings time change has set everyone in a better mood. I feel that people are friendlier, more neighbors are out in the community walking dogs and holding hands, even a few are in their garden already....life is good!
It's looking like real estate sales have really picked up in Greater Vancouver. I've been busy, and I'm sure, if you're a realtor, a home-buyer or seller, you've noticed it too.
If you're a home seller, in this very active market, it's likely you'll have people coming to view your property, and if they make an offer subject to home inspection, you'll want to do a few things to help make this procedure a little easier for you and for the buyer.
Of course, this is obvious, but cleaning is often overlooked before an inspection. Although a home inspector doesn't really care about the mess, there is a sign — an unkempt house gives the impression of neglected regular maintenance. Additionally, new buyers will accompany the inspector and will feel the same way; they may possibly rethink their purchase or find the property less appealing than they originally envisioned. In some cases, you're selling the house you've been in for years, and because of health challenges, it's too hard to maintain your residence. It will be worth getting a cleaning agency in, even just once, to spruce the place up.
A home inspection with Walkabout Inspections can take as long as three hours. With busy schedules to keep and reports to prepare, home inspectors try their hardest to be on time. Often, we are early. Try to be ready half an hour before the appointment time. Remember as well that inspectors often think little of starting early around the outside of the property, without your knowing they are even there.
Take your pets with you or have them boarded elsewhere for the day. At the very least, secure animals in crates, kennels or leads far away from any area where the inspector will be. Avoid an incomplete inspection, pet loss or liability resulting from nervous pets. Unfortunately, I've actually seen deals go through because buyers are afraid of animals, and the seller (his renter) refused to help with this. The inspection was cancelled, and the deal went sour.Read my previous blog for more tips on how to prepare for a home inspection.