From the home inspector’s point of view there is always a VERY different approach to the meaning of this title phrase than from the seller’s position. And for a very simple reason – “we” (the property owners) tend to forget about areas in our homes that don’t (at least not immediately) impact our daily routines. For as long as we don’t feel any dramatic changes in our surroundings, everything is assumed to be alright. We adjust and fail to notice small, gradual changes, and because, over the years of living in the house, it was decorated (in and out) to please our personal senses, we think that everything is in a good shape, and the property will sell quickly, just because “we” love it so much.
And this approach, or rather this natural human behavior, worked perfectly for the past few years. Unfortunately for the sellers, with the currently unstable real estate market, preparing your house for sale might need that extra ingredient to help successfully complete the entire transaction.
During the recent months, I’ve had several clients using my inspection services 2 or 3 times each (it never happened that often during my 10 years of being in this business). I’m not sure if the sellers of all those properties searched the Internet for home selling tips, or preparing their homes for sale guidelines, but if you’d only look at those houses appeal, most of them were pretty much ready to move-in: clean, de-cluttered, de-personalized (so the buyer could easier picture himself as the owner), rearranged, with a perfect curb appeal … yet that did not sell. Why?
- Because the current market buyers’ approach (at least my clients) changed dramatically, they seem to be more interested in what they can’t see (behind the wall and under the floor) than how neatly your house has been arranged or how clean it is.
- Because the sellers didn’t check the attic and crawlspace area, heavily contaminated with black mold.
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And this approach, or rather this natural human behavior, worked perfectly for the past few years. Unfortunately for the sellers, with the currently unstable real estate market, preparing your house for sale might need that extra ingredient to help successfully complete the entire transaction.
During the recent months, I’ve had several clients using my inspection services 2 or 3 times each (it never happened that often during my 10 years of being in this business). I’m not sure if the sellers of all those properties searched the Internet for home selling tips, or preparing their homes for sale guidelines, but if you’d only look at those houses appeal, most of them were pretty much ready to move-in: clean, de-cluttered, de-personalized (so the buyer could easier picture himself as the owner), rearranged, with a perfect curb appeal … yet that did not sell. Why?
- Because the current market buyers’ approach (at least my clients) changed dramatically, they seem to be more interested in what they can’t see (behind the wall and under the floor) than how neatly your house has been arranged or how clean it is.
- Because the sellers didn’t check the attic and crawlspace area, heavily contaminated with black mold.
Leave a Comment
Discuss
Tell a friend
Bury
Print Preview
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