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Home Inspection Checklist
First impressions are critical. If you want to achieve the best possible price for your home, it needs to be in immaculate condition. You must be able to see your home through the eyes of a buyer. The slightest fault will cause house hunters to have doubts. Conduct a thorough house inspection and take note of anything you might need to fix using our checklist.
Outside
The outside of your house is the first thing a buyer will see. If the house looks dirty or run down, people will not bother coming inside. Your house needs to look appealing enough to entice buyers through the front door. Ask yourself: does your house look attractive from the street? Does it look like a place others would be proud to call their home? Would you buy your house in its current state?
Your lawn should be neat and tidy. Make sure both the front and back yards are free of weeds, leaves, branches and other debris. Trim all your trees and shrubs, and put fresh mulch in your garden beds to make them look new again.
- Clean, repair, and repaint any fences and gates. Decks or verandas may need to be oiled. All gates need to be in working order, as buyers won't care for excuses or explanations.
- Give the outside of the house a fresh coat of paint. Clean out all the gutters and downspouts. Clear the roof of any branches or debris, wash it down and make sure there are no missing tiles.
- Clean aluminium or vinyl with a high-pressure hose, if water restrictions in your area allow. Make sure you remove any spider webs and other insects from the outside of the house.
- Sweep down the driveway and footpaths. Remove any weeds, and mend any cracks in the pavement.
- Repaint your front door and doorframe. The doorbell and entrance light should be in working order and the doorstep clean and uncluttered. It may be a good idea to buy a new doormat if your old one is a bit shabby.
- Wash all windows so that they are squeaky-clean and fresh. Check that none of your flyscreens are broken, and make sure that none of the windows are cracked.
- Place pot plants by the front door or on the front porch. Fresh plants and flowers can enhance the charm of your house. If you are expecting buyers in the evening, it could be worth investing in a few small solar powered lamps from your local hardware, and placing them in or around any garden beds or paths.
Inside
The first thing you need to do is clean the house from top to bottom. Don't overlook any minor faults; if you notice something, a crack, a broken cupboard door, a leaky tap, chances are a buyer will too. Any minor defect will make the buyer wonder what else could be wrong with the house.
- You are selling space, so make lots of it! Position your furniture so that rooms appear larger. Take any worn looking or excess furniture to a self-storage unit. Furniture that looks old may give buyers the wrong impression.
- Run a garage sale or donate any unwanted items you may have to the Salvation Army. Junk and clutter will only distract the buyer. Reorganise and clean your garage, and any other storage areas you have.
- Scrub the walls to get rid of any dirty marks, stains or smudges. If the walls still look grubby after thoroughly cleaning them, you may need a fresh coat of paint. Painted or varnished surfaces should be checked for any marks or scratches, and wallpaper should be free of nicks and tears.
- Dry-clean your drapes and curtains. Closely inspect all windows and windowsills. If there is any water damage or chips and cracks you will need to repaint.
- Clean your carpet. If your carpet looks old and worn, it is worthwhile having it cleaned. Shampoo cleaning lifts the pile and deodorizes the carpet.
- Haave all your rugs cleaned. Wash any oriental rugs using the back of a broom for traction.
- Make sure all doors open and close properly. If they don't, there may be a problem with the foundations. Oil the hinges and tighten the doorknobs; remove any stickers or blue-tack from the doors and repaint if necessary.
- If your toilet runs water every half an hour, repair it. Strange noises from the bathroom, rust, water stains and dripping taps might be a hint that the plumbing system needs replacing, or that the bathroom needs to be re-done.
- Scrub the bathroom until it sparkles. Buyers will notice if it appears unsanitary. Redo the grout around the bath and shower, and check if there are any cracked tiles that need replacing.
- Reorganise your wardrobes so that they appear spacious. Take all non-essential items to the self-storage unit. Large wardrobes are desirable for most buyers.
- Replace any light switches that may be dirty or be covered in paint. Check that all dimmer switches are in working order.
- Your house should smell fresh and clean. If any member of the household smokes, use an air freshener a few minutes before your buyers arrive. Powder fresheners are good for getting rid of tobacco smells. Even if you don't smoke, making a pot of fresh tea before your appointments can make your house feel more homely.
- Buyers may be allergic to cats, or afraid of dogs. Make sure your pets are outside during the inspection. Give your pets a regular flea treatment and use a flea bomb once a week, especially if your house is vacant. If your pets are not around to feed on, fleas will start to attack anything that moves. The last thing you want is a buyer covered in fleabites!
Major improvements
Do not spend large sums of money on a place that you are selling. At Seller Solutions, our policy is "put $1 in, get $2 out". Most renovations, even adding an extra bedroom or installing a pool, will give you less than a 100% return on your investment, and are not worth the effort. Building work will also delay your sale. Our recommendation is to invest in cosmetic works for presentation and leave the major alterations for the new owner.
Often the cheapest and simplest option to have your house looking good is a new coat of paint! |
T E S T I M O N I A L S
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