Tips for Selling a Stafford House: Always Disclose
When selling any product, the best way to land the deal is to talk about the great features. Sellers do not want to discuss any of the problems the product has. However, selling a Stafford house is much different.
When selling a Stafford house, many sellers think of it in terms of hiding all the flaws so the new buyer is stuck with them once it is too late. This strategy will only bring legal trouble and a longer selling process overall.
For this reason, disclosing all information, good or bad, right away when selling a Stafford house will make everyone much happier.
Building Reports
A building report can be a great tool for any Stafford homeowner. It can be obtained at the building department that holds the cities records. This report does need to be paid for but all the information it contains is worth the extra cost. It outlines the properties entire history. When any permits where obtained, when those permits were finished, zoning information that is very helpful to Stafford buyers, and any violations the house has.
These violations are something that a new Stafford buyer will look at. They do not want to deal with the problems an old owner has on the property. If the buyer is going to purchase a Stafford house with a problem, they will want a discounted price. By getting the building report and fixing any problems before listing the Stafford house, there will never be any problems with unexpected violations.
Inspections
It is always a good idea to have an inspection before listing a Stafford house. While this is an additional cost, it can save a homeowner money in the long run. Any problems that are found can be taken care of before potential buyers learn about them.
If a problem comes up when a buyer gets an inspection that is going to cost the seller money. Whether it is upfront to fix whatever problem or on the sale price so the buyer can fix the problem. When an agreement cannot be found the house goes back onto the market.
A house that is pulled from the Stafford market and is put back on raised suspicion among other buyers. People will be concerned there is a major problem with the house. Any problem that was found will have to be disclosed right away because people will ask what went wrong with the last deal.
Head off those problems at the pass. Get an inspection first and fix all problems before anyone knows about them.
Disclose Now, Not Later
No buyer wants to hear that their dream home has a leaky roof that needs replacing. However, it is best to hear about all of the problems during the initial visit rather than learn about them right before closing or during an inspection.
Some buyers are willing to overlook problems if they like a Stafford house. They will appreciate a seller who is willing to disclose everything and will trust them when they tell them the good portions of the house.
Disclosed Information Contract
When selling a Stafford house, any and all disclosed information should be acknowledged by the buyer. To avoid any legal problems after the fact, have the buyer sign a document stating that they are aware of all problems with the home. This is going to help the seller fight against any legal claims that are made after closing.
While it can be disheartening to lose a potential buyer due to information being disclosed about problems with a Stafford house, it is even worse for a deal to fall through when it is almost complete. Let the buyers who are not dedicated walk away and stick with the ones that are okay with the flaws in the home.