While throwing a ton of money into your home right before you sell is not something we often advise a homeowner to do, there are three things you may need to look at before putting your home up for sale. It’s important that your home is not only something that will catch the eye of the perfect buyer, but is free of any big hang-ups that may stop the transaction in its tracks.
Here are three things you may need to worry about when selling your home, because buyers (and their REALTORS®) are paying close attention.
Your A/C unit
The lifespan of an average air conditioning unit is roughly 10-15 years. A unit any older than that is most likely starting to show signs of distress, may need some repairs that could be costly, and could be the culprit contributing to your rising electric bill due to inefficiency. Issues can arise even sooner if you haven’t properly cared for your system over the years. Replacing your air filter on a regular basis and having routine maintenance done is important, too. A new air conditioner can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000—or more depending on the size of the unit.
Your roof
As with your A/C unit, your roof also has a lifespan. For the average shingle roof the lifespan is generally said to be 15-30 years. However, we live in Florida, and the sun can have a significant impact on the lifespan of a roof—shortening it to 10-15 years. A few telltale signs that your home may be in need of a new roof are missing shingles, sagging spots, loose materials, or water leaks. Many times, a roof is one of the biggest issues we see come across in a home inspection, and they are costly to replace. A new roof can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $13,000.
Plumbing
If you’ve witnessed a home inspection before, you’ve probably seen the inspector turn on all the faucets in the house and leave them running while they continue to check other aspects of the home. During this time, they’ll randomly flush the home’s toilets, too. The main purpose for this “water test" is to check for any leaks around faucets and toilets or from pipes. While this is generally a surface-level assessment, there are other factors an inspector looks at, including the age of the home and the type of piping used in the home. Re-plumbing a home can be costly, and is not usually the most attractive “home improvement” item on any homeowner’s to-do list.
No matter how much curb appeal your home has on the outside, or how much charm it holds on the inside, a savvy buyer and/or REALTOR® will have questions for you when it comes to these various aspects of your home. Being proactive when it comes to these issues is the first step in making sure your home is everything a future homeowner could ever ask for in their “dream home”.
