Dear David,

We’re moving our parents into an assisted-living residence. They’ve lived in their home for over 40 years and have always taken pride in caring for it. We plan to sell the property once mom and dad are settled. The house feels a bit like a 1980s time capsule, and some of the maintenance has slipped in recent years. I hear that many of today’s buyers want home inspections, what can we do to make sure the house passes? – GETTING PREPARED

DEAR PREPARED: It’s not uncommon for home maintenance to slip as parents get older and become more reliant on others to take care of what they used to do themselves. It can be difficult for family members to watch things decline. Often the problem isn’t a lack of pride in the home, but the fact that the work has become harder to manage. After handling more than four decades of property maintenance, this is a turning point for your parents: finally, they can focus on settling into their new place, and let the family take care of preparing the house for sale.

These days, an increasing number of buyers are making their offers conditional on a home inspection, which was less common four or five years ago. This shift may make you nervous, but keep in mind that a home inspection is not a pass-or-fail test. Most homes will turn up a long list of deficiencies on an inspection report, and the inspector acts like a detective, uncovering clues that point to possible problems. When the inspection is over, the inspector generally provides buyers with a practical to-do list, ranking flagged items in order of importance.

Sometimes an inspection turns up an “a-ha” finding that needs prompt attention, especially when it has to do with health or safety (ie. a cracked furnace heat exchanger or a leaky roof). Most findings are not that serious and end up being routine items for buyers to keep an eye on, rather than a reason to panic.

At this point in the process, work on getting your parents settled. When you turn your attention to the house, look for water leaks or dampness, clear the eavestroughs and downspouts, and make sure the furnace, plumbing and electrical systems are all in working order. Address immediate safety concerns, have qualified professionals check anything you’re not sure about, and of course, keep your receipts and service records. A pre-listing inspection is one way to help plan projects and avoid surprises. Discuss the findings with your Realtor, and decide what it makes sense to address. Focus your energy on safety, water and the home’s major systems; you don’t need to modernize the house just because it’s stuck in the 1980s. When it comes time for a buyer’s inspection, make sure the attic, basement, electrical panel and mechanicals are all accessible to the inspector.

PRO TIP: A home inspection isn’t a final exam. You can’t fail, and some observations are subjective. When buyers understand why an item was flagged by the inspector and how it can be addressed, they’re often reassured by having a clear path forward. Before I list a home, I prefer working with families to get ahead of problems that are easily fixed, instead of waiting for them to become points of contention in an offer. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator

David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Moving? Get it right. Ask David today! Call or text 519-577-1212.