Preparing for a Home Inspection

Buying or selling a home? A home inspection is most likely in your near future. While a buyer will almost always request an inspection, sellers are frequently jumping ahead of the game and hiring their own home inspector.

Here are some tips from Advantage Inspection Service for preparing for a home inspection:

While the home inspection is conducted by the home inspection professional, both sellers and buyers can prepare themselves for the process. Sellers will have the most work to do- prepare the house in advance to save time and make the most of the home inspection visit.

To start, sellers should clean their home! This may seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. A home inspector does not judge the home or its mechanical systems by its cleanliness, but a home in disarray may lead the inspector to wonder what lurks underneath. In addition, it will be much easier for the inspector to do their job without having clutter or belongings in the way.

In particular, areas around appliances, electrical panels, heating and cooling units, water heaters and shut-off valves should be clear and available to the inspector. Dishwashers and washing machines should be emptied because an inspector will turn them on, even if they are not included in a sale to make sure plumbing and electrical lines are working.

Home inspectors also need access to any attic space, garage shed, basement, or crawlspace. Doors should be open and unlocked.

As a seller, stay ahead of the game buy fixing obvious repairs before the inspector points them out. Fixing items such as handles, knobs, faucets, broken windows or hanging cabinets will keep down the number of items on the home inspection report.  Other issues that may send up a red flag for an inspector include ceiling stains, chimney defects, fogging windows, rotted exterior wood or mold.

The seller may not care to fix a larger issue such as an aging roof, but it makes sense to acknowledge such an issue and then adjust the home price accordingly. Always keep receipts and invoices for repairs.

Buyers should always plan to meet the inspector at the end to go over everything. Attending the inspection gives you the chance to learn your way around the home and get an in-depth look at the property. Be on time and having a list of pertinent questions that they wish to ask.

Remember that every home inspection will uncover some flaws in the property, even if it is a new build. Expect problems and be prepared to work them out with the seller.

For a full list of how to prepare for a home inspection,visit the National Association of Home Inspectors site.