Are you selling your home?
Many buyers prefer to have a home inspection done before they close on a house. This ensures they don’t purchase a building that has a lot of unforeseen problems. As such, some sellers fear the home inspection process, as it might prevent a potential buyer from purchasing the house.
So how do you make sure your home inspection goes in a smooth manner? Below, we will get into a homeowners guide for a successful home inspection. Keep reading to learn our top 7 tips for successful home inspections!
1. Make a Good First Impression
First impressions matter. Before you close on your home, you need to concentrate on making a fantastic impression on your buyers. Most buyers come to their home inspection, so you should make sure your home looks good on the outside.
Start by cleaning up any outside mess. Have your children pick up any toys in the yard. Ensure all of your outdoor decorations look tidy and appealing. If you have political signs in the yard, consider taking them down, as these opinions may alienate your buyers.
You should also inspect the exterior of the home. Make sure your vegetation remains groomed and attractive. Then, you should look at the details of the home itself. Make sure there isn’t any visible damage and fix it if you find it.
2. Look at the Roof and Gutters
Home inspectors won’t take an in-depth look at any area of your home since they aren’t specialists. Still, you should make sure your roof and gutters remain clear and look good.
If your roof has any damage, get it fixed before your home inspection. Get it power washed if it looks dirty.
You should also clear any leaves or debris out of the gutters. The runoff from the gutters should also go away from the house. If it doesn’t, the water might damage the foundation and be viewed in a negative manner by the inspector.
Should you notice any damage to the caulk or other elements, have it fixed. If you don’t, the home inspector will note it down as a defect.
3. Fix Your Interior
Before you sell a home, you need to spruce up your interior and make any necessary repairs. For the best results, do your repairs before you put your home on the market.
Yet, if your home already has interested buyers, you still need to ensure nothing further needs fixing. Perform an in-depth look at your home and search for signs of damage. Test the doors and locks, and look for leaking pipes under the sinks. Make sure your trims, caulking, and seals remain in top condition. Scan your drywall for damage.
Run tests on your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they work. All of your lighting and fans should get inspected, too.
The more work you do upfront, the more favorable your home inspection becomes.
4. Clean Your Home
Take some time out of your schedule to clean your home. Dust, scrub the bathrooms and the floors, and get any markings off of the wall. The cleaner your home remains, the more enticing it becomes to your buyers.
You should also clear any items that may block the inspector’s path through the house. Keep items away from furnaces, utility closets, and other areas the inspector might need to view on a closer level. This speeds up the process. It might also illuminate some small fixes.
5. Prepare Your Documentation
Have you made any fixes or remodels to your home? If you have, try to locate your paperwork for the home inspector. This shows them what was done and when.
This should include information on upgrades made to specific systems within your home, such as the HVAC system. You might also want to provide paperwork on any repairs or maintenance completed. This communicates that you kept your appliances up-to-date and in good working condition.
6. Give Them Access to Every Area
A home inspector will want to see every area of your home. This includes your garage, shed, and anything else that comes with the property. If you don’t give them access, they may note it down in their report.
Does any part of your home require a passcode or a key? Make sure you give keys or codes to your inspector so they may access those areas.
So, before your inspector arrives, go over every area of the house and make sure you leave the proper instructions for how to get into it.
7. Get Your Pets Out of the House
Before the inspector arrives, get your pets out of the house. Even if your pets usually have calm demeanors, a barking dog might make an inspector nervous.
In addition, pets can do damage if you leave them in your home. They can also shed on the furniture, making your house appear messy. You don’t want your furry friend to hurt your chances of selling the house, so this homeowners guide recommends taking them with you.
You should clean up any mess your pet makes before the inspector arrives. If you have a cat, make sure their litter box has been cleaned out. Should your animal shed, clean your furniture in a thorough fashion in case your inspector has allergies.
Liked This Homeowners Guide? Get Your Inspection!
Home inspections constitute an important part of the homebuying process. A good home inspection can cause a potential buyer to proceed with their plans to purchase your home, so you need to prepare for it.
We hope this homeowners guide has helped you get ready for your home inspection.
Looking for a reliable home inspection company? Contact us today to learn how we can help you!