LGBT Home Seller Tips - Think Like an Inspector

Every spring the real estate market shifts into higher gear as buyers take advantage of pretty weather to go house shopping. Homeowners also seize the opportunity to put their homes on the market, and as the number of available listings surges this seasonal increase stimulates competition between sellers. That’s when LGBT sellers who want to gain an advantage need to try to think like real estate inspectors.

Many potential sales fall apart before they make it across the finish line because buyers are disappointed or even alarmed by information contained in the inspection report. Maybe the inspector finds too many needed repairs, and the buyer and seller are unable to reach a consensus regarding how those will be paid for or when they will be completed. Perhaps the home inspection ordered by the buyer reveals termites, a faulty roof, improper wiring, or an urgent need for an exterior paint job. These are major issues, and they are only compounded by contract deadlines and the typical sense of buyer nervousness and apprehension.

Even seasoned home buyers may become reluctant to pursue a transaction if the home inspector observes too many problems. At that late stage in the process they may decide that it’s safer and more sensible to just shop somewhere else. Other potential buyers take note of the fact that the deal fell through so they, too, shy away from the property. The chain of events only makes matters worse for the seller who also loses precious time – and potential buyers – while focusing on a pending sale that never makes it to the closing table. The homeowner misses out on another chance to sell during challenging economic times, even as the window of opportunity to take advantage of the springtime buying season becomes smaller.

But many of these problems can be avoided by doing some prior planning. To help ensure a smooth sales transaction once they get an offer to purchase, LGBT homeowners should not only market the home to buyers but they should take the extra step to prepare the property for making a good impression on inspectors and appraisers. Without convincing those professionals, in other words, no amount of cosmetics or slick advertising can guarantee a sale.

Consider the perspective of the inspector. Curb appeal does matter to him or her, because it is a visible expression of pride of ownership. If the property looks shabby and neglected at first glance, it probably has other less conspicuous problems. So spruce up the home with a cosmetic makeover, because that is always important for marketing and it also earns kudos from buyer-hired home inspectors.

But then look deeper – beyond the surface where most buyers will never check but good inspectors surely will. Is the electrical wiring up to code, and up to date? Are there any curled or missing roof shingles or places where the flashing around a chimney, dormer, or vent pipe has come loose and might leak?

Check for signs of dampness and mildew in the basement, and see that the gutters are clear and that the landscape slopes away from the foundation – not toward it. There should be enough space between the exterior walls of the house and any bushes, for example, so that a person can slip along the outside perimeter of the home without tripping over a plant.

The windows should not have any cracked or broken panes, and window and door screens should all be present and accounted for without any rips or tears. Unstable hand rails and banisters need to be steadied, and there should be fully functioning modern GFI outlets near any sink in bathrooms and kitchens.

Dripping faucets, doorbells that don’t work, missing or loose-fitting doorknobs, and burned-out light fixtures or absent switch plates are other little details that can add up to a negative inspection report. Fix them ahead of time and it will cost less money and bolster buyer and inspector confidence.

Minor repairs that have to be done after the inspection, on the other hand, typically cost a lot more because buyers want them done by a real pro – at higher rates – and they scrutinize them extra carefully and ask for additional repair allowances if they aren’t satisfied.

Of course many LGBT homeowners don’t know how to detect these issues, and they don’t know how to remedy them. So before putting a house on the market it is a good idea to hire a contractor, handyman, or other knowledgeable professional to walk through the house as an inspector would, taking notes and creating a prioritized repair to-do list. Spend a little money getting everything up to par and it will save oodles of time and money later on in the process. The inspection will go smoother, and a glowing inspection report does wonders to convince buyers that they got a great home at a reasonable price.

To locate excellent LGBT-friendly real estate professionals in your area, just visit www.GayRealEstate.com or call toll free 1-888-420-MOVE (6683). The site is home to the largest online network of LGBT Realtors in the world.