Selling your home would typically involve making several checks for health and safety hazards. The importance of getting safety hazards out of the way when selling your home cannot be overstated.
Apart from the fact that if a major hazard is found, it could be a deal breaker, there’s also the aspect of it being a danger to you when you remain in that home. As such, identifying and setting out to fix them is vital.
Here’s how to sell a house with health and safety hazards.
What Constitutes a Safety Hazard?
Safety hazards in the home refer to anything that could fall, move, break, or cause a fire in the home. Generally, this would cover any fixture within the home that can potentially cause harm to human life if not properly maintained. Here are some of the most common sources of safety hazards.
Exposed Wiring and Panels
Home electrical fires see an estimated 51,000 occurrences. This implies that this is quite common, and homeowners must be wary. Most electrical fires are usually a result of exposed wiring, frayed extension cords, malfunctioning electrical outlets or faulty electrical wiring in the wall.
Given how much a danger this can pose, ensuring that everything regarding your electrical system is up to code is critical. Subpar electrical works which are not up to code can be a major cause of fires. Next, it’s critical to have an electrician examine your electrical connections to ensure everything is still in good condition.
Usually, a pre-listing inspection would go over your electrical system. However, you should call a professional electrician for a more comprehensive review. Seeing exposed panels and wiring can scare away potential buyers. So, in addition to this being a danger to you, it can also impede your home sale.
Cover exposed panels and change any burned or damaged wiring to avoid a fire outbreak. Further pervy
Old or Damaged Roof
An old or damaged roof could be a safety hazard both directly and indirectly. If your roof has been damaged for a while and has been ignored, the damage can continue until it collapses. When this happens, it could cause major injury to people in the home.
Indirect damage occurs when mold grows due to a leaky roof and other damaged spots. It is not uncommon to have bubbles, blisters and cracks in the sealant, and you should call a professional immediately if you notice this. A good roof should have intact tiles and ridge caps or shingles because of their critical role in preventing leaks.
Most buyers are wary of buying a house with a bad roof, so this can effectively be a dealbreaker.
Cracked Foundation
Any damage to your foundation is an emergency. Since your home sits on the foundation, it absolutely has to be in excellent condition all the time. If you start experiencing sagging floors or seeing horizontal or vertical cracks along your interior and exterior walls, you should have a professional take a look.
Your foundation, retaining wall and stem wall must be in prime condition. In addition, a faulty foundation can be a dealbreaker for most buyers, so this is a must-fix for you.
Mold
Mold usually results from moisture buildup. So, if you have a leaking roof or water seepage from various pores and cracks, you would likely have mold growth. Exposure to mold can trigger several allergic reactions like sneezing, watery eyes, itching, wheezing, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
Excessive and extended exposure can trigger even more allergic reactions. They can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma who also have mold allergies. While it doesn’t cause any debilitating illnesses, its presence can be a major inconvenience.
HVAC System
Your heating system is another leading cause of home fires and accounts for 44,210 fires responded to each year from 2016 to 2020. The major cause of fires in HVAC systems is poor or irregular maintenance. Dirty coils, blocked ducts, and clogged air filters can cause a gradual reduction in system efficiency, resulting in overheating and potential fire hazards.
To prevent this, regular maintenance by a professional is necessary. If your HVAC system is old and dying out already, you should work towards replacing it. This would set you back an average of $7,000. However, given just how important an HVAC system is, a replacement can help your marketing efforts.
Appliances
A faulty appliance can spark an electrical fire, so a comprehensive examination is necessary. One of the more common causes of fires is faulty electrical wiring in appliances.
Examine all your appliances, ranging from your water heater to kitchen appliances. This would help highlight any malfunctions and pinpoint any failing equipment. A faulty water heater can also cause flooding in the house, which is a major potential hazard because of the presence of electricity.
How Do You Sell a House With Health and Safety Hazards?
The first approach to selling a home like this is identifying all the sources of these hazards and setting about to get them fixed. Some might need to be replaced altogether, which would set you back a lot of money.
However, if you have enough to spare, you could do that and bring the home up to code. Afterwards, you can list on the open market with the aid of a real estate agent and wait for potential buyers to come along.
The second approach is selling your house as-is. This involves selling just the way it is, hazards and all. Who’s going to buy? We can help out with that!
We buy houses that need serious repairs or are in various other conditions. At dsouzahomebuyers, we can provide you with a cash offer for your house in no time!
You don’t have to deal with any of this hassle. No need for repairs or renovations!
Fill out this form to get the process started, and we could be closing in as few as 7 days! Remember, no fees, no commissions, no closing costs!
If you have any other questions, definitely call us at (925) 503 8193.
Final Thoughts
Safety hazards are a major deal breaker during a home sale, so you need to get those out of the way. Afterwards, you can explore selling traditionally. However, if you want to skip the entire hassle, consider selling as-is to a cash buyer.
