Each year, over 5 million pre-existing homes are sold in the United States. If you are in the process of trying to sell your home, preparing for the inspection process is essential.
Before a bank will approve the funding of a mortgage loan, they will usually insist that a home inspection is performed. During this inspection, professionals will look over every detail of a home to see if there is any serious damage.
The last thing you want to do is go into this experience without an idea of what to expect. By adequately planning out the home inspection process, you can avoid any unexpected surprises. Looking over the home inspection tips for sellers in this article will help you adequately prepare for this process.
1. Vital Home Inspection Tips For Sellers: Clean The Residence Thoroughly
When trying to prepare for a home inspection, one of the first things you need to do is give your residence a thorough cleaning. While this may sound like a relatively simple tip, you would be surprised to learn how many people forget to do this.
You need to realize that the home inspector hired to perform his job is a person. This means that they will naturally draw conclusions about the condition of your home based on how clean it is.
Rather than starting out the inspection on the wrong foot, you need to give your home a deep clean. Making a good first impression is key when trying to sell a home in a timely manner.
2. Make Sure You Are On Time
People who perform home inspections for a living are usually very meticulous and organized. This means that a home inspector will either be right on time or even a few minutes early.
You need to make sure you are at home well before your appointment. The last thing you want is for the inspector to wait for long periods of time.
If you are currently living in the home, you may want to avoid letting the shades or drapes up until you are dressed. Some inspectors will begin their work on the outside of the home, which is why you need to avoid any unwanted surprise interactions before you are ready to greet the day.
3. Make Sure Your Utilities are Connected
If you have moved out of the home you are trying to sell, be sure to leave the utilities on until the inspection is completed. The home inspector will undoubtedly want to check things like your stove, furnace and even your dishwasher.
Denying the inspector the ability to test these features in your home can result in a less than stellar report being generated. Usually, the home inspector will want to reschedule their appointment if the utilities have been turned off.
Instead of having to deal with the headaches this can cause, just leave your utilities on. This may cost you a bit of money, but it is definitely worth the investment.
4. Clear a Path Around Vital Systems in Your Residence
When preparing for a home inspection, you need to make sure there is a path around the vital systems in your residence. Things like the water heater, HVAC unit and plumbing pipes will need to be inspected thoroughly.
By cleaning up around these areas, you can make a home inspector’s job a bit easier. Most homeowners will be hesitant to move obstructions on their own.
This is why you need to do a pre-inspection to discover these obstructions and remove them.
5. All Pilot Lights Should be Lit
If your furnace has a pilot light, make sure it is lit before the inspectors arrive. Many inspectors will refuse to light it on their own due to the danger that it poses.
The liability insurance policies carried by these inspectors are usually not extensive. This is why they will avoid doing anything that may result in a lot of damage.
If you are unsure about how to light the pilot, you may want to contact your local gas company. The professionals who work there should have no problem getting the pilot light functional in a hurry.
6. Make Sure the Inspector Has Access to the Garage and Attic
The next thing you need to do when trying to prepare for a home inspection is to ensure access to the garage and attic. A home inspector will need to look over these areas extensively when making their report.
Before the inspector arrives, you need to do a walkthrough of these areas. Doing this will allow you to remove any obstructions or cobwebs that may be present.
With the help of a vacuum cleaner, you should be able to remove spider webs with ease. If you have boxes lying everywhere, try to straighten them up before the inspector arrives.
7. Clean Around the Outside of the Home
Some homeowners focus so much on getting the inside of their home ready for an inspection that they forget about the outside. Taking the time to inspect and clean up the outside of a home is essential.
Once you have cleared away debris from the home’s exterior, check the condition of any outbuildings on the property. You need to make sure these structures are both unlocked and easy to get into. An inspector will have to cover every square inch of your property to make their report.
Preparation is Key
Now that you have read our home inspection tips for sellers, you are ready to get your home ready. With a bit of hard work, you can make the home inspection process easy for everyone involved.
Are you looking for more information about home inspections? If so, read the various blogs we have on this subject.