It doesn’t matter how many additional features your home may have; if it is not structurally sound and safe or major repairs are required, most buyers will not be interested. It is important that you take care of the physical problems that you are aware of; this will save you time and money down the road.

Let’s say you decide not to fix some of the repairs immediately or on your own time. Eventually, you will have to deal with them. You may end up repairing the problems anyways, but at a future date. Or you may include them during negotiation. Either way, you lose time and you push back your selling date. The bottom line: if problems aren’t fixed and are disclosed at a later date, not only could you lose time and money, but you could also lose potential buyers.

Key Problems that you Should Fix

Defective Plumbing: During inspection, the property inspector will check for leakage, clogging, undersized pipes and rusting pipes. Any of these problems if left unattended can lead to serious water quality problems.

Damp or Wet Basement/Attic: Mildew odors and mineral deposits on the basement floor will concern most buyers. The repair costs for a damp or wet basement can run between $200-$15,000 depending on the severity of the problem. Not only can there be mildew and mold forming in the basement, but also in the attic. Damp attic spaces lead to premature wear of the roof, structure and building materials. Buyers and Sellers should take these repair costs into consideration when negotiating the selling price.

Inadequate Wiring & Electrical: Inadequate circuits are a potential fire hazard. All homes should have a minimum of 100 amps service and the wires should be either copper or aluminum.

Poor Heating & Cooling Systems: Poor heating is a result of a poorly functioning heating system or a furnace that is still running over its regular life span. Usually, the heating system or furnace will need to be replaced.

Roofing Problems: External problems like a leaking roof will cause internal problems as well and this will be a great concern to buyers.

Rotting Wood: Rotting can occur in door or window frames, trim, siding, decks, and fencing. A cosmetic fix-up like painting over it will not deter the problem nor be unnoticed by a property inspector.

Masonry Work: Problems with external bricks can lead to water and moisture leakage inside a home.

Adequate Security Features: In general, your home should provide basic safety measures. For example: a security system, locks, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, etc.

Structural and Foundation Problems: The underlying footing and foundation of your home should be structurally sound and safe.

return to top