What to Know about Examining a Home After the Tough Winter

Posted by: iowahomeloans on: April 11, 2014

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For much of the country, it’s been a long, cold winter. You might not realize it, but hard winters like the one we just had take a big toll on your home. If you’re trying to sell your home in the spring market, you might want to examine your home for any damage caused by the harsh winter. Fixing these problems can be helpful before a buyer notices them during inspection and asks for a costly discount. Alternately, if you’re a buyer, take a close look at any home that you’re considering and look for signs of winter damage.

Sellers, Knowing about Issues is a Mixed Blessing
If you’re trying to sell your home, knowing about potential issues with the home is a mixed blessing. Many states have now put real estate disclosure laws in place to protect buyers in a real estate transaction. These laws basically state that if you’re aware of certain types of problems with a home, you have to tell the buyer about them. In this case, ignorance is bliss – if you don’t know about a particular issue, you can’t be required to disclose it.

On the other hand, savvy buyers will order a thorough home inspection – and if they uncover an issue, it could jeopardize your sale. Buyers may request concessions, including a discount on the price. If the problem is bad enough, it may scare buyers away. If you’re aware of these issues, you can go into your home sale with the right strategy – or fix the issue before you list your home.

Buyers – Be Alert for Weather-Related Issues!
For buyers, it’s important going into this spring season to be alert for weather-related issues. A good inspection should uncover most problems you’re likely to face when you look at a potential home. Even so, if you live in an area that has been hard-hit, look out for things like issues with the plumbing, damage to the roof, signs of flooding in the house, problems with rain gutters and downspouts, and other weather-related issues. Ask your home inspector to be alert for these issues, and be prepared to negotiate with the seller if you find signs of these problems.