Home Disclosures
REMEMBER, you only have to disclose those things you have knowledge of.
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Mold-ABC's
Mold ABC’s-The Basics
Moisture leads to that big no-no of the new millennium: Mold. Almost every house, old or new, has some mildew; whether in the attic, where the bathroom fan was incorrectly vented into it instead of to the outside, or in that corner of the basement that has no airflow. Mold can also be found outside of the home. Shady spots or areas near the house that accumulate water or even piles of cut grass can be active breeding grounds for mold.
Mold thrives in warm and moist conditions. It spreads and generates by producing spores. Mold spores are hardy little creatures and can even survive in cool and dry places.
Many people are sensitive to mold. Common reactions to exposure to mold are nasal congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing and/or skin irritation. Less common are more severe reactions such as fever or trouble breathing.
Keeping Mold Away
Monitor the humidity level in your home. Between 40% and 60% is ideal.Air conditioning is the enemy of mold. So is a dehumidifier.
Ventilation, including properly vented exhaust fans in high moisture areas such as bathrooms, helps.
When repainting, use mold inhibitors in the paint or primers specifically designed to inhibit mold.
Clean your kitchen and baths with products designed to kill mold.
Carpeting underfoot in bathrooms and basements looks and feels comfy, but can promote mold growth. Hard surfaces, like tile, are best for preventing mold from forming.If carpeting, upholstery or wood gets soaked, consider replacing it.
There are many kinds of mold. Not all of it is dangerous, but no one wants it. If you have any question, you might consider getting an expert to give you an analysis.
Remember, as a for sale by owner seller: once you are aware of a problem you have to disclose it to your prospective buyer. Therefore, we suggest you err on the safe side, and get rid of any mold before you list your house. If you get rid of any mold problems before you list the house, it will not become a deal-killing inspection issue.
This is the first in a continuing series on mold, including types of mold, what to do when you find it and legal issues as a for sale by owner seller or a buyer.
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Staging Your House to Sell ASAP
Staging Your House to Sell ASAP
No matter how dead the real estate market is, no matter how long you or your realtor has tried to sell your house, staging your house properly will help you sell it as soon as possible.
With today's slow real estate market, it is more important than ever to do everything possible to make yours the most attractive, appealing and next to sell house around.
Here's what we did to sell ours:
1. We got rid of most of the refrigerators from the porch. Naturally, we had to leave one smaller one, the Kelvinator, because it was a gift from my husband's first wife. I remember the day she dropped it off here. It was pouring rain when a wild woman in a pickup backed into the yard, got out, climbed into the back and kicked the fridge, the La-z-boy and several armloads of clothes onto what used to be grass before we started the compost heap. That was how I learned Bob's wife had found out about us.
2. We donated all of our unused vehicles to Goodwill. They even came and towed most of them away.
3. We fixed the septic tank so that when you flushed the toilet it went out instead.
4. We took Bob's wanted posters down. After all, we didn't want the place looking like a post office, plus folks want to be able to picture their own hanging there.
5. We repainted the walls a neutral shade after spackling over the birdshot holes from when Arnie was cleaning his shotgun.
Here's what I actually did:
I got in the car and took a ride around the neighborhood, noting the addresses along with a general description, of the other houses for sale. Then I drove up to my house and parked in front. I started a list of things that could be better, like the peeling paint over the garage door, the cracked walkway and so on. I even put down clearing off the driveway and trimming the front bushes.
Then I took walk around, writing down everything that could be better. I wrote down things that I had been meaning to fix up for years, though I didn't know if I even needed to repair them in order to sell my house.
Next I tried both screen doors, opened the front door and walked inside, noting that the key could have turn a bit more easily. Taking notes as I went from room to room and then into the basement, I accumulated a fairly lengthy list.
Paring the list to manageable size gave me some feeling of control, even though I hadn't started doing the work yet. It was important for me to know I was moving forward rather than simply waiting for buyers to come. Listing a house for sale in a slow or slowing market is not like the Field of Dreams: list it and they shall come. It's more about understanding what buyers are looking for and then making sure that it's your house.
That's where staging comes in and where FSBOComplete can help.
Martha
More information on staging your house for sale as quickly as possible and a look inside Get It Ready
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