You are about to list your home in town. Since you have lived there for
many years, you know that it is not perfect. There's a leak in the basement that
is noticeable only after a heavy rain, the garage door sticks, the toilet in the
master bath works like a fountain, and the dishwasher is prone to work
stoppages.
Any home has some quirks. When it is time to sell your home, you have a choice
of either making the repairs or letting the buyers know what the problems are,
especially any potentially serious problems. Some buyers will want a structural
inspection so that they will have a good idea about what they are getting into.
Even if the buyers don't ask for an expert to look at the house, it is the
seller's responsibility to disclose any defects in the property that they know
about. A concealed problem may come back to haunt you after the closing. Many
lawsuits involve undisclosed defects, and the settlement of these cases makes
the cost of repair or the price concession during the sales look like a real
bargain.
