If you're thinking about selling your home, there's one surefire way to give your buyers confidence and make your life so much easier—get ahead of those inspection items!

I’m Jodi Bakst with Real Estate Experts, and I’ve been helping people buy and sell homes in Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina, for over 28 years. So trust me when I say—what comes up on that inspection report matters.

In today’s video, we’re going to talk about things you can fix before listing your home—simple, smart steps that can make a big difference. And don’t worry, I’ve got a free checklist you can download to help you keep track of everything. It’s linked below.

Let’s jump in!

First things first—buyers want to feel like your home has been well taken care of. So before you list, start on the outside:

● Replace or repair any rotten wood—on the siding, stairs, decks, or screened porch.

● Got firewood stacked near the house or debris in the crawl space? Move it! Wood near the foundation attracts termites—no thanks.

● Trim trees and bushes that are touching the house or roof, and cut back anything blocking your windows. Natural light is your best friend when you're selling!

Next, take care of those easy-to-overlook safety issues that inspectors always call out:

● Make sure all your smoke detectors work and that there’s a carbon monoxide detector on every floor.

● Windows and doors should open and close properly. If you have cracked windows or foggy glass (aka broken seals), replace them—or at least get quotes for negotiation purposes.

● Burned-out lightbulbs? Replace them. And make sure each fixture has matching bulbs with good lighting throughout the house. Dim lighting = bad vibes.

Let’s talk about the bigger systems:

● In North Carolina, water heaters need an expansion tank—check that off your list.

● Make sure every electrical outlet has a cover plate—even in the attic and crawl space.

● GFI outlets (those special ones near water) need to be installed in the kitchen and bathrooms.

● Have your HVAC systems serviced before listing. Keep the invoice—it shows buyers you’re on top of it. And if your system’s getting old, go ahead and get a couple quotes for replacement. You’ll thank yourself later during negotiations.

Now for the heart of the home:

● Fix any cracked grout or tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.

● Make sure all your appliances work—especially your cooktop burners and oven knobs. Oh, and check if your oven has an anti-tip device. If it tips forward when the door’s open, it’s a safety issue!

● Garbage disposal making a crazy noise? Fix that.

● Kitchen and bathroom cabinets should open and close smoothly. Touch up scratches or give them a fresh coat of paint if needed.

Almost there! Here are a few more things that can make or break your inspection:

● Your garage door should reverse when it hits something—test that.

● Showers and toilets should work perfectly and toilets should be tightly sealed to the floor.

● Roof issues like missing shingles or cracked plumbing boots? Have a roofer or handyman check it out before listing.

● Got cracks on the walls inside or outside? If it’s more than a couple, consider getting a structural engineer’s letter. That peace of mind goes a long way with buyers.

And if you’ve got a crawl space (which we do a lot here in NC), make sure it has a vapor barrier, it smells clean, and there’s no mold or debris. Efflorescence—those white mineral deposits on the foundation—can be harmless, but it’s good to know what’s causing it.

Whew—that was a lot! And here’s the thing: I didn’t even cover everything inspectors look for.

In North Carolina, buyers usually also do a termite inspection, radon test, and if you’re on well and septic, those get checked too.

This is exactly why I’m such a big believer in pre-sale home inspections. You don’t have to guess what’s wrong or what might come up. You’ll know what to fix—and what not to fix. I always help my clients go through the inspection report and decide what makes sense to address.

It’s all about full disclosure and making sure buyers feel confident in your home.

Alright—if you made it this far, you’re a rock star and you’re going to be so ready to list your home.

- Don’t forget to download my Pre-Home Inspection Checklist—link is right below the video.
- If you found this helpful, give it a like, and
- Subscribe to my channel—I post new content every week to help you buy and sell with confidence.

Also, check out this video where one of my clients shares how a pre-sale inspection saved them time and money when they sold their home. It’s called “Save Time and Money! Get A Pre Sale Inspection Before Selling Your Home.”

I’m Jodi Bakst, Broker Owner of Real Estate Experts, serving Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina.
If you have questions about selling your home? Reach out anytime—I’m here to help.

🍾 FREE Checklist 🍾 https://www.realestateexperts.net/how-to-prepare-for-a-home-inspection 

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