Tips to Prepare Your Home for an Inspection

When selling your home, a negative or poor home inspection can block a deal, cause significant delays, or cost you on the selling price. Once you’ve decided to sell, you can minimize your risk by first assessing any potential issues and address them before having an inspector come through. Below is a list of helpful tips to prepare your home for an inspection.

Spruce up the property

Interior– Go through every room of your house to make sure things are tidy and out of the way. This includes making any minor repairs such as loose doorknobs, broken light fixtures, or stubborn windows. Even a fresh coat of paint or some caulking can be beneficial.

Exterior– Remove excess mulch, clear debris from the roof and trim trees and other shrubs that may be hazardous or block access to doors, windows or crawl spaces. Additionally make sure all waterways and downspouts divert away from the house and that gutters are cleared out.

Be sure to leave utilities and pilots on

Whether you’re living in the house or it is vacant, the utilities need to be on. The inspector has to make sure the appliances and HVAC system works. Likewise the pilot light must be lit. Inspectors do not light pilots for liability reasons. If inspectors are unable to assess hot water units, furnaces or stoves the inspection is rendered incomplete.

Filters and ventilation

Ensure all filters are clean or replace them with new ones. Install or update the ventilation systems in the attic as well as vapor barriers in crawlspaces. Be sure to clear spider webs and anything else that may be in the way of the units and around the walls.

Leave keys and clear the area

Inspections usually last about three hours during which your home should be cleared of residents and pets. If there are locks for garages, electrical boxes, sprinkler system covers or any doors, be sure to leave them unlocked or provide the inspector with a key. Also be sure to leave enough space so the inspector can properly work and access the different areas- usually three to four feet.

At the end of the day remember that inspectors are very scrupulous about their work. Anything they cannot assess or access will cause a delay. Likewise anything that is broken or not working properly is considered inoperable. So take the extra time and money to dot every i and cross every t before your home inspection date.

If you’re ready to sell and want to find out what your home is worth, contact Minteer Real Estate Team today!