Okay, it’s time.
You’ve put your house on the market, gone through the painstaking process of staging it, and finally found someone who wants to purchase it.
Yay, you!
But now it’s time for the home inspection.
And if you don’t know anything about home inspections that it can seriously throw a wrench in your plans.
But that’s what we’re here for!
Read on to discover 8 tips on how to prepare for a home inspection so that you pass with flying colors.
Why do I need to know How to Prepare for a Home Inspection?
It’s simple, really. The home inspection is used as a bargaining point when you’re selling your home.
If you’ve got someone who’s interested enough that they’re at the point where they want to do a home inspection then you need to know how to prepare for a home inspection so that you’re not caught by surprise.
While there won’t always be a home inspection, it’s more likely than not that if you’re selling your home, you’re going to go through one. So it’s important to make sure that you’re up to snuff to avoid any major issues.
If there are major issues, your buyer can use that to negotiate down the price they pay for the house – or can put it on you to make repairs before they buy.
So preparing for your home inspection can reduce the amount of money you end up losing in the house selling process.
1. Clean Until It Sparkles
This one should just be common sense. You want to make sure that your home looks nice and welcoming.
The home inspector is going to be looking at your home as a whole – as well as its individual parts – so you want to make sure it’s as clean as possible to avoid any markdowns.
Why? Because a clean home says you take care of your home and keep it regularly maintained. And anything less can color the inspector’s idea of your home and the results they give.
2. Get Your Paperwork Together
You’re going to want to have a file with all of the maintenance and repairs you’ve done on your home. And if you’ve had any insurance claims make sure that goes into the file too – that way you can prove you took care of the problem.
Keeping all of this together in one place to provide to the home inspector shows that you’re ready to go and that you have nothing to hide.
Plus, it’ll make the inspector’s job easier – which they’re bound to appreciate.
3. Clear the Perimeter
The home inspector isn’t going to just be inspecting the inside of the home – they’ll be inspecting the outside too. This includes siding, trims, caulking around windows and doors… And the foundation!
If the inspector can’t easily get to these areas, it might be a red flag for him and, later, for your potential buyers.
This means clearing away brush in the summer, shoveling if there’s snow outside, and moving any trashcans or other items out of the way.
4. Check the Roof
When is the last time you looked at your roof? It’s probably been a while, right Make sure that you take the time to look at it now!
You’ll want to make sure that your gutters are cleared out and that any drainpipes or downspouts are in the proper position. You’ll also want to note any damaged or missing tiles – and you’ll want to make sure you get those fixed before the inspection.
A little investment now can save you a whole lot of headache later.
5. Replace Any Bulbs That Are Out
This one is easy and simple. Just make sure that all your lightbulbs are working.
If they’re not, it can suggest one of two things to the home inspector. First, that it’s just a blown bulb. Or second, that there’s something faulty in the fixture’s wiring.
You will save the home inspector a whole lot of aggravation and wasted time if you make sure that all of your lightbulbs are shiny and new.
6. Turn All Pilot Lights On
You need to turn the pilot lights on yourself. Why? Because many inspectors will refuse to light pilot lights themselves because they don’t’ carry enough insurance to be covered for that type of liability or risk.
If you’ve got any pilot lights out then important items such as the water heater, gas stove, or furnace will not be inspected.
Make sure all of your pilot lights are on (even the one for your fireplace!) so the inspection can go off without a hitch and your potential buyer doesn’t have any reason to delay closing on the house.
7. Clear Access to Your Attic
Remember, the home inspector’s job is to inspect the entire house. That means that they’ll need access to areas that you may not use that often – like your attic, basement, and even your garage.
Make sure that these areas are clean and that any junk or items you keep in them are clear enough that the inspector can walk around and, you know, inspect.
8. Provide Workspace Around Furnace and Water Heaters
This is important because home inspectors require at least three to four feet of working space to inspect these items.
That means you’ll want to clear away boxes, bookcases, furniture – anything that could get in the way during the inspection.
This is especially important because inspectors will often not move things themselves which can cause a delay, once again, in closing the deal.
You want to make sure that the inspector is able to inspect everything in the house during the first inspection.
Closing the Deal
Now that you know everything you could ever want to know about how to prepare for a home inspection… It’s time to close the deal!
Make sure you’re plumbing is good, your exterior looks pretty, your foundation is up to snuff – and follow the rest of our tips – and you’ll be good to go.
And if you’re looking to schedule your own inspection to see what a potential buyer might discover, then make sure to contact us.