Early in my career, a mentor took me aside and suggested that I should always “lay the groundwork” in covering unknown issues faced by both Buyers and Sellers, keeping in mind that the majority of resale homes and condos may have some “age” issues that surface during the due diligence and inspection period. The average age of a residence on Sanibel is 30-40 years old.
Items that often come up are age of roof, location and age of circuit breaker, condition of AC system and quality of pipes used in plumbing. In addition, be prepared for Insurance issues, which include flood elevation certificates, surveys and four-point inspections, and cost of current policies. It’s common for Buyers to ask these types of questions. Home Inspections are almost always conducted as a part of the sale.
Recently, Inspectors are reporting on repair work needed on wood pilings. All of these issues have solutions. The point I am making is to be transparent. The Buyers and the Sellers should become knowledgeable about these issues. I recommend that these points be addressed early. By doing so, the sales experience will be a good one. Let me know what you think about “laying the groundwork.”
Ann Gee
239-850-0979
