What Every Seller Should Show

You are about to put your home on the market. Since you have lived there for many years, you know that it is not perfect. There may be a leak in the basement that shows up only after a heavy rain; your garage door might stick, or the dishwasher may be prone to labor strikes for some unknown reason.

Every home has a few quirks, and when it is time to sell, you have a choice of either making the necessary repairs in order for those things to function properly, or letting the buyers know about the problems. As a matter of real estate law, all material defects must be fully disclosed.

Some buyers will contract a professional home inspector to evaluate the mechanical and structural items of the home. Even if the buyers don't ask for an expert to look at the house, each seller is still legally obligated to disclose any known defects in the property at the time the purchase agreement is written and again at the time of closing.

The seller's agent will provide the disclosure form, wherein the seller may itemize any problems. Sellers try to avoid lawsuits over undisclosed defects by making repairs before the sale or agreeing to a price adjustment during the transaction if defects are discovered. As always, document your negotiations in full and keep copies for future reference.

If you have questions about moving, building, selecting your first home or moving up to your next home, contact DAVID BRENTON’S TEAM.

When you are serious about moving… put our TEAM to work for you!