There’s times when an inspector goes to a home for an inspection for a potential buyer to find a home that it’s not ready for the inspection. This makes the buyer suspicious that there’s areas the inspector can’t get to, and sometimes they’ll back out of the deal because of this.
Just a little maintenance can go a long way in getting ready for the inspection. By doing this maintenance, you avoid those long lists of misc. defects on an inspection report that can alarm potential buyers.
Getting Ready for the Inspection
Here are some tips to get your home ready for a home inspection:
Make sure the electricity is on and connecting to all circuits. A home inspector won’t flip breakers “on” or “off” during an inspection.
Make sure the gas, or electric, is on to all the appliances, Light all all pilot lights. Inspectors won’t turn on valves or light pilot lights.
Make certain that the water is on and functional. Inspectors won’t turn any valves to get water to the fixture.
Replace any burned out light bulbs.
Clear out any stored items that are under the sinks.
Is your attic access located in a closet or an area where your personal items may be in the way? Remove your personal items from under the attic access hole. Also, remove shelving that’s in the way of getting a ladder to the attic. Inspectors won’t move your personal belongings or shelving to gain access to your attic.
Check doors and windows for loose hardware. Make sure they open and close properly.
Clean off the roof and/or gutters from debris, etc.
Are there any minor leaks under the sinks or drains? Have them repaired before the inspection. Check for any minor leaks under sinks or drains and have them repaired prior to the inspection.
Have a heating and A/C professional in and have them both serviced. Have the record of the last servicing available for proof.
Just a little maintenance can go a long way. It can reduce a laundry list of defects found by the inspector, and it will also help to quiet some of the buyer’s concerns.
If you would like to know of any inspectors in our area, get in touch with me.