Information for Home Sellers & Buyers

I have been living in the same small house for 20 years and recently began to think about moving to a slightly larger home. I bought the buysmallhouse domain with the intention of using it to promote my own house when I put it up for sale. What I saw when looking at homes made me change my mind. I decided it was time to start educating first time buyers who are looking for a home.

I lived in various apartments, duplexes, etc before I bought my first house. Repairs, taxes & insurance were not my problem so they weren't even something I gave much consideration to when I was looking for a house. I think that is the case with most first time home buyers, especially buyers coming from apartments. I bought a foreclosure so no information was given or expected to be given on the house. The owner was long gone.

Now I am looking at houses being sold by owners that have lived in them 5 or 10 years and they still want to give no information on the home. This is ridiculous, you wouldn't buy a used car from someone that way. You ask to see receipts for repairs and maintenance. The seller is ea gar to give this information on a well cared for car because they know they can get a better price. Doesn't seem to matter if a house is in good or poor condition, there seems to be no information on it.

A house costs a lot more money than a car and if the owner wants to sell it they should provide information. Real information, not some vague little disclosure form. If they don't want to provide information they should sell it "as is" at foreclosure prices. Instead they put a fresh coat of paint, inside and out, cover up rotted wood and water stains and ask top dollar. They know most first time home buyers won't know what problems to look for and many of them won't even have the home inspected. It's time for the process to change and the only way it will change is if buyers and sellers demand it.

Sellers Read This if You Want a Faster Sale

As a seller you should want someone to know all the repairs and improvements you have made on your home. Make a list, make copies and leave it in the house for buyers to pick up and take with them. Know that when a buyer asks your agent a question and they say "I don't know, I will have to get back to you", they often never do and you may have missed your only chance. Know that if you aren't providing information, it looks like you have something to hide. Don't expect your agent to provide information, they have too many properties to deal with. They are just there to do paperwork and let people in the door.

Many people don't want to look at a house that is all electric as the bills will be higher. I have seen many houses listed in the MLS as all electric that are NOT all electric. I bring it to the listing agents attention and they don't change the listing. For this you pay a 6% commission?

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