We’ve been in the business for 16 years as of this year, so we compiled 16 tips to prepare for a home inspection. Hometech does home inspections for buyers and home inspections for sellers.
Prepare for a home inspection as a seller: Inspections for sellers can be a valuable tool in the real estate process. Prior to listing a house for sale it is very important to be aware of any potential problems or maintenance issues. Prospective buyers are quick to point out issues. As they might try to negotiate repairs before the purchase agreement. With an inspection from HomeTech you can address and repair any potential problems. It’s to your advantage to address them before a buyer and be well informed in the real estate negotiation process.
Prepare for a home inspection as a buyer: When buying a home of any age, size, or style, it is vital to be aware of its current condition. Our detailed home inspections for buyers report will cover every aspect of the home’s current condition. This report will cover the entire home, from foundation to roof, inside and out. Our detailed report will provide you with a valuable tool in the real estate purchasing process.
Regardless, A home inspection is a great way to learn about the condition of a home prior to a sale. Doing the tips below to prepare for a home inspection will help uncover anything that you will want to be aware of prior to a negotiation.
If you’re selling a home here are 16 tips that will make the inspection a more efficient and positive experience:
- Ensure all utilities are on; the electricity, water, and gas. This can be especially important if the house has been vacant for a period of time.
- Make sure that any gas pilot light is lit (fireplace, furnace, water heater, etc.). Inspectors don’t light pilot lights, they report the appliance as being inoperable at the time of inspection.
- Look all around the house to remove any wood, furniture, debris and stored items that might be touching the house or the foundation.
- If any part of the house will be not visible from greenery such as trees trees, bushes, and vines be sure to trim them away from the house sides and roof for inspection access and viewing.
- There are often locks that we forget about or don’t often remove. Be sure to remove any locks which may be on gates, sheds, storage rooms, electric service panel cabinets, HVAC service disconnects, storage closets, water heater closets, attic access, or garage car entry doors.
- Think about how you store things. Move any furniture and any stored items away from the crawl-space access, attic access, under-stair access or unique storage rooms to your house.
- A home inspection includes a garage! Make sure that automobiles, bikes, toys, skis aren’t blocking the attic access or the overhead door operation in the garage.
- Know that the inspector is going to operate almost everything in the house; the furnace, cooling system, sink disposal, dishwasher, fireplace, refrigerator, microwave, hot water heater and more. If any of this isn’t working well, it’s best to let us know ahead of time.
- Replace any burned out light bulbs.
- Test the smoke alarms, replace the batteries.
- Sweep out any dusty places that would prevent good access to an inspector collecting data. This is often an electrical panel, crawl space or HVAC area.
- Replace the HVAC systems’ air filter(s).
- Note or repair or replace damaged or missing items such as; rain gutters, down spouts, knobs, hinges, latches, handles, and glass windows.
- You may choose to provide recipes or copies of receipts for recent repairs made to the house (ask your agent about this).
- To ensure the sewer scoping process goes smoothly, it is important to guarantee accessibility to your clean out. We must make certain that the inspector can easily reach the clean out, whether it is located inside or outside of your home.
- Consider lodging for your pet during the inspection. Your pet could have an unpleasant run-in with our inspector and risk the effectiveness of the inspection.
Content provided with edits by https://www.homeinspector.org/
