We all have that feeling when we are selling our house and a buyer sends a home inspector in to give it the intense once over. We think he’s going to pick it to bits and the buyer will withdraw from the sale. It happens and if your house is not up to scratch it will probably happen. Blame the house not the inspector.
Home inspectors look for major and/or minor defects in an inspection. If your home has major defects you’re probably already aware of them and you need to fix them asap. Nothing scares a buyer away more than seeing major defects on the building report. They will either withdraw completely or use the report as a negotiating tool to reduce the price at least by the cost to repair the major defect.
Major defects are usually structural things like walls out of square, a sagging roof, severe water damage, a sunken or badly uneven floor, major termite attack or major electrical HVAC or plumbing problems as examples.Inspectors all have different definitions of “major defects” but to me if it needs repair NOW or cost a major amount of money to repair (say $10k plus) or inhibits occupation of a property it is a major defect. Any one of the above will qualify as a major defect.
Fix it before your house goes on the market. Now….every house has minor defects as no property is perfect.Minor defects include everyday things like doors not closing correctly, minor water leaks, broken kitchen cupboards, bad silicon sealing around wet area tubs, showers etc, cracked windows, torn fly screens, a broken or leaning front fence, really bad paint job, a few loose roof shingles, disconnected down spouts, broken or non working power outlets or light fittings, wobbly front steps, decks and railings….etc
#Minor defects are usually the result of poor maintenance of a property over the years and are relatively easy to repair in preparation to sell your house.These types of things are considered low hanging fruit for a home inspector and they will load up the building report with them as to look like the client is getting value for money.
But all these low hanging fruit minor defects also makes your house look bad so fix things before you place your house on the market. Either do it yourself or pay a handyman to fix them. The definition for minor defects would be that they each cost a relatively small amount to repair, they can be done while the new owner is living in the house (non urgent) and they don’t preclude occupation of the property.
