What to Expect from a Move-in-Ready Home

If you’re buying a home for the first time, you may or may not be prepared for what can be described as a journey. Meaning, a lot of first-time homebuyers are looking for that “perfect home”. During this process, buyers may learn a lot about themselves in terms of what they want and what they don’t want in their first home.

What is considered "Move-in Ready?"

For a home to be “move-in-ready,” there shouldn’t be anything that needs to be fixed urgently. In other words, there shouldn’t be any issues that need to be taken care of before the buyer can occupy the home.

Is there a serious pest or electrical problem? Is the plumbing out of commission? Is the roof so bad, you don’t feel comfortable if there’s a rainstorm? If a house is advertised as move-in-ready and you see any of these red flags, it’s not move-in-ready.

Move-in-ready is a very broad term. A home does not need to be brand-new or fully remodeled to classify as move-in-ready, and a lot of people have a misunderstanding about that. So, the green-colored countertops or the barnyard painting behind the oven are giving you nightmares, it doesn’t mean the home is not move-in-ready.

What should I expect from a home that is technically move-in ready?

• A home where all of the electrical is updated and the switches and outlets are modern.

• The roof, windows, and doors should all be in excellent condition.

• The HVAC system (heating and cooling) should be working very well.

• While stainless steel appliances and marble countertops are nice, they are not required for a home to be move-in-ready. However, the kitchen should be functional, and the faucets, lighting, and appliances should work well.

• A move-in-ready bathroom should be clean, the drains should not be clogged, and the showerhead should have good pressure. Leaky drains, a toilet that doesn’t flush, and a shower with low water pressure are all causes for concern.

• All flooring (hardwood or carpets) should be clean and in nice condition.



• The paint inside the house should not be marked, chipped, and it shouldn’t be any wild colors.

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