05/20/2026
The biggest issues are usually not surprises.
They’re the things homeowners have been meaning to address for years that will impact the sale.
☝🏼Appraisal comes in too low or needs repairs.
☝🏼Deferred maintenance.
An old roof at the end of its life.
A failing septic system.
That hole you’ve been meaning to patch.
Moisture in basements or attics.
Signs of pests because routine service was ignored.
☝🏼Once an inspection reveals major, unexpected structural or safety issues (such as faulty wiring, a bad roof, or environmental hazards like oil tanks), buyers and sellers frequently clash over who is responsible for the repairs. If they cannot negotiate repair credits or a price reduction, the deal can easily unravel.
These things WILL come up. It’s not a matter of if — it’s when.
One of the biggest mistakes I see sellers make is waiting until they’re ready to move before addressing problems that have slowly piled up over time. If there’s a leak, fix it. If there’s a hole, patch it. If something breaks, repair it before it turns into a larger issue.
Buyers today are cautious, inspections are thorough, and once confidence is lost, negotiations usually follow.
The homes that sell the smoothest are typically the homes that have been consistently cared for over the years — not just quickly cleaned up before photos.
If you’re even thinking about selling in the next 6 months to a year, or two, start preparing now.
I help you during a home consultation to review what you may need to do to have a seamless sale of your home. 🏡
