Update your home

What may be stopping potential buyers?

Is your home outdated? What are the most common issues that need addressing when you are selling your home in the Snohomish and King county real estate area? Here are the basics:

   Anytime I represent a client on the purchase of an older home which are very common in Seattle and Everett, I make sure to have an inspection contingency that gives the buyer the right to cancel for any reason, based on the results of the inspections, be they a home inspection, pest (termite) inspection, structural inspection, etc. Most sellers, in a strong buyers' market especially, will accept such a contingency as long as the right to cancel period expires after a reasonable amount of time.

But in this case, the seller will not be able to sell the home to a buyer who needs a loan to purchase the home. Without insurance, the loan cannot be obtained and the buyer has an out, and the right to get her deposit refunded.

The sellers could have made things easier on themselves by getting a home inspection prior to putting the home on the market. A good inspector would have notified the seller of the problem and the seller could have made the repairs beforehand. I always suggest a pre-listing home inspection. Sure, there is some additional upfront costs, but correcting this problem in advance could go a long way in making the sales process flow much more smoothly.

If a  client is a first time buyer, this is something that immediately puts a bad taste in their mouth. The old wiring, along with some of the other old-house issues, may be enough to make them play the right to cancel card without asking for the wiring fix. Old knob and tube wiring... old plumbing and outdated leaking windows will turn off a buyer real fast as they see this is an expensive fix.

Consider a pre-listing home inspection. This will give you a more clear picture of the condition of your home, and allow you to resolve any issues that may prevent a sale before putting your on the market. This will put any buyers at ease right off the bat and let them know you are serious about selling a good home.

King County Real Estate regions, including Bothell Washington Real Estate and Mill Creek Washington Real Estate. Search all listed homes and properties for sale in the King County, and Snohomish County Real Estate.

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