How To Prepare For A Home Inspection

Selling your house is usually the easiest part. What's harder is actually preparing your home for sale, and a big part of that is getting ready for an inspection. A pre-inspection is an important step in ensuring that your sale goes through. Many sellers choose to have it done before potential buyers walk through the front door.

If buyers are willing to pay for professional inspections of homes they care about, why would you spend money on a pre-inspection? For example, do you really want to find out if your roof has a leak or if your electrical panel needs replacing?

Simply put, yes. Pre-inspection allows you to get a sense of what the buyer is likely to find and gives you an idea of what needs to be fixed or updated. While you may not make the necessary repairs, your selling price will most likely reflect this.

Pre-Inspection Reasons

• It Is A Sign Of Honesty:

  A Pre-inspection is a signal that you aren't trying to hide anything. A buyer might feel more confident to submit an offer if you do a pre-inspection. Even if the buyer does decide to pay for an independent inspection, it will show that you care about your home. This is particularly important if you are selling your home without the help of a realtor. It's never a bad idea to show the buyer you are willing and able to go the extra mile.

• It Is A Negotiation Strategy:

  A thorough inspection of your house will prevent you from being caught off guard by major problems during a buyer's inspection. This allows you to determine when you should be firm about price and when you may need to compromise a little. For example, if you are certain that your roof will need replacement in the next few years, but you have decided not to replace it yet, you might need to lower the price. In this instance, knowledge is power.

What Are The Main Things Home Inspectors Look For?

Appliances:

They will inspect any appliances that are staying in the home, such as your stove, oven and refrigerator, dishwasher, washer-dryer, garage door, and water heater.

Systems:

Expect, a home inspector to inspect your home for major-ticket systems such as heating, cooling, and gas.

Structural Features:

They will inspect your roof, garage, attic, or crawl space for problems.

A home inspection includes a thorough check of all doors and windows.

Do-It-Yourself Checklist To Help Sellers Prepare For A Home Inspection

To ensure smooth inspection, here are some steps you can do on your own. Consider calling an expert if you find anything not easy to do yourself.

1. Access Points For Cleaning And Decluttering Inspections

• Clean furnace filter

• The oven and stove should be cleaned

• Attic empty storage

• You should organize any closets that provide access to your crawl space or attic.

• Clear at most 4 to 6 inches around your home's perimeter.

2. A Home Inspector Will Test The Functionality Of All Items

• Test locks and seals by opening and closing windows

• Run all faucets and flush all toilets

• Turn on any bathroom fan or ceiling fan

• All light switches are possible

• You can manually open and close the garage doors. The remote can be used to control the reverse safety setting.

• Verify that weather stripping is intact on doors

• Make sure that the downspouts properly divert water away from your home

• Make sure that heating ducts have been connected to the crawl space

• Make sure fan ducts vent properly from the attic

3. You Should Take Basic Security And Safety Precautions

• Smoke detector batteries need to be replaced

• Test carbon monoxide detector

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy

• Cap gas lines and chimney entry points

• Eliminate rodents and bugs

4. Repairs To The Property Are Necessary

• Change light bulbs

• Caulk bathtubs and sinks.

• Bathroom water damage can be repaired.

• Drain clogs should be removed.

• Any dingy grout should be replaced

• Repair cracked or damaged windows and screens

• Any missing roofing should be replaced

• Repair damaged insulation in crawl space and attic

• Use 6mm plastic sheeting to cover crawl spaces

5. Exterior Home Improvements

• Clean the roof and pressure wash it if necessary.

• Trees that hangover or near the roofline should be cut

• Clear out gutters

• Clear away all debris around the A/C compressor, drainage pipes, and foundation vents

• For water runoff, slope soil away from your home

6. Last-Minute Preparations Are Necessary For Inspection

• You should leave your house an hour earlier than usual

• Pets are a great way to bring your pet along

• You can leave remotes for your garage door, ceiling fans, lights, and so on.

• Give keys to gates, outbuildings, or electrical boxes

• Turn on the pilot light for gas-fired appliances, including the water heater

• Make sure that all utilities are turned on

• Launder your laundry in the washer and dryer

• Dishwash dishes in the dishwasher and take them out of the sink

• Please leave a sketch that identifies the location of a septic tank or well.

• For any maintenance, repairs, or insurance claims, please keep the paperwork.

Alternatives To A Pre-Inspection

Although you are free to do a pre-inspection, it is important to take the time to do so to increase your chances of a smooth closing.