The Rat That Stole the Show Home Sellers - this is a cautionary tale told at time when
buyers are skittish and homes for Squirrelsale are aplenty. If your home does not meet their standard
they will bolt and head to the next home or the next one after that. Your domino tiles have to be lined up
perfectly. This week a colleague had an inspection of a home in the
North Shore - she was representing the buyers.
Their biggest worry was that the house had a dryvit exterior (also known
as a synthetic stucco) and that was what they wanted their inspector to focus
on. He never got that far.  He headed to the attic first and came back down with some
stunning news. The attic was infested
with creatures - maybe they were rats, squirrels, possums, raccoons, who
knows? It didn't matter - the insulation
was shot - completely burrowed through with animal feces and fur, and animals
quickly scurrying away. Suddenly, the buyers didn't care about the dryvit -
they canceled the inspection and they canceled the contract. They have already moved on to several other
homes they like. End of story. Ruined attic insulation. But is it? Does it have to end this way? Are you thinking about selling your home? Is your home currently for sale? You will have the best shot at selling it if
it priced right - that is the NUMBER 1 consideration you have. This is not the time to test the market or
not be fully motivated in your desire to sell.  But at the same time, even a very compelling price can't
undo the negative perception that an attic full of woodland animals will
create. Years ago, a buyer would have
asked the seller to remove the animals, clean the space, and replace the
insulation. The sale would have probably
been consummated. Not so today. The tipping point is much lower than it used
to be and the only way to prevent a lost sale is make sure your house has no
surprises. Consider getting your house pre-inspected by a certified
Illinois inspector. The cost of the
inspection varies depending on the size of your house and the inspector you
use, but generally they range from $400 to $800. It is money well spent compared to the cost
of not being able to sell your house. If
you find a problem you can mitigate it for much less than a buyer would
demand. Yes, the buyers will still conduct their own inspection -
but you can rest easy that the rats won't steal your show. If you are thinking about selling your Winnetka or North
Shore home, please call me. I'd be happy to discuss and recommend good
certified inspectors. I sell homes in the following areas: Margaret Goss GRI, CRS Baird & Warner, Winnetka IL 847-977-6024 |
