It appears that 2011 is off to a more robust start than 2010, or maybe it’s just the way I feel, or maybe it’s the way you feel. This is admittedly conjecture on my part, but it feels as if everyone has a little more energy, a little more positive outlook than a year ago. Is it that the bad news has stopped arriving in crushing waves the past few months, or could it be that the general populace [you and me] are becoming immune to it’s effects?
We’ve initiated several new tools/policies in our business that me downright excited about the market going forward. Number one is “pre-listing inspections”. Those of you that know me/us are familiar with our “can-do attitude” when it comes to repairs subsequent to a buyer’s inspection. Sure, we can get it done. But there are inherent problems with selling property this way:
Do you want a buyer to tell you what’s wrong with your house, or would you rather know before going on the market? The sub-plots are many, but our primary concern is that if you wait until the buyer discovers the blown furnace, as a seller you have no recourse with regards to that expense in the form of price adjustment. What I mean is, if you’d replaced the furnace prior to listing, it is likely that you could recover some, if not all, of the expense. Most would agree that a house with new furnace represents a better value than the same house with an old furnace, so you could price the home slightly higher to begin with.
I’ll be writing more about pre-inspections soon. Stay tuned, as we have several under way right now.
Share this Post