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How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

If you are selling your home, more likely than not, you will have to have your home inspected by a potential buyer. Preparing for the home inspection is crucial for an easy transition from a real estate contract to signing the final documents during the closing.

As a home inspection company ourselves, let’s discuss how you can prepare for the home inspection.

Complete a Pre-Listing Inspection

If you have not already, you should consider a Pre-Listing Inspection, or “Pre-Inspection”. You can learn in detail about the Pre-Listing Inspection, but here’s a brief outline:

What Is It?

A Pre-Listing Inspection is a home inspection before a home goes on the market. This is an inspection so the seller and listing agent can understand what is wrong with the home before a potential buyer finds the issues.

The pre-listing inspection comes with some pros and cons you should be aware of.

Pros

  • Find out the condition of your home and choose what is worth fixing for a better ROI on your home.
  • Price the home appropriately for a faster home sale.
  • Fewer Negotiations.
  • Less overall stress.
  • More Marketability of the property by showing your home is pre-inspected.

Cons

  • Paying for an inspection.
  • Having to disclose inspection findings.

Thoughts on Pre-Listing Inspections

Pre-Listing Inspections are definitely worth it, but in some cases, like a hot market, you may opt not to have this inspection.

Speak with your Realtor about having a pre-listing inspection completed to see if it is right for your case.

What Home Inspectors Look For

Next, it is important for us to talk about what home inspectors do and do not look for so you can be fully prepared. Here’s a list of what home inspectors look for at each home system.

Exterior

  • Grading
  • Driveway
  • Sidewalks
  • Drainage
  • Vegetation
  • Siding/Paint Condition
  • Gutters
  • Garages/Doorways
  • Structure
  • Crawlspace
  • Sprinklers

Interior

  • Floors, Ceilings, Walls, & Doors
  • Windows
  • Outlets & Lights
  • Countertops/Cabinets
  • Appliances
  • Bedrooms/Bathrooms

Plumbing

  • Water Heater
  • Pipes
  • Water Leaks
  • Water Functionality/Pressure at all Fixtures

Electrical

  • Electrical Panels (they will need complete access to take the panel off)
  • Wiring
  • GFCI’s & AFCI’s

HVAC

  • Air Handler/Heater
  • Air Handler Coils/Filter
  • Plenum
  • Air Conditioner & Equipment

Roof & Attic

  • Walking the Roof
  • Walking the Attic that is Accessible

What Realtor Crystal Brady Tells Her Sellers On How To Prepare & What To Expect

Summary

Home inspectors will generally be everywhere they can physically get to. Be prepared to have personal items moved so an inspector can reach key items like the water heater, electrical panels, and attic access. If they cannot access these items, it will not be inspected, and your buyer may become frustrated that full access was not given.

Let’s move onto the home inspection prep checklist.

Home Inspection Prep Checklist

You should look at all the parts of your home noted above in the what home inspectors look for section to check for function, damage, and access. We have made a nice checklist so you can prepare for the home inspection below.

Exterior:

  • Trim trees away from the roof and home.
  • Trim shrubs, vegetation, and remove unsightly plants.
  • Overseed lawns to maintain a “paradise” look.
  • Power wash sidewalks, driveways, patios, and exterior walls.
  • Clean front door and frame.
  • Paint as needed to improve curb appeal.
  • Have a roofing contractor inspect the roof and make needed repairs.
  • Remove screens and clean windows. Clean out gutters.
  • Have irrigation and lighting systems in working order.
  • Keep garbage containers in the rear of the house or in the garage.
  • Keep toys and bikes out of sight.
  • Dress up the front. A few potted plants make the house look loved.

Interior:

  • De-clutter the home.
  • Have a yard sale to make extra cash.
  • Donate or throw away unused items.
  • Put possessions in storage.
  • Clean off everything on the kitchen counters.
  • Clean out and organize the garage and closets.
  • Place all breakables, antiques, and other valuables in a safe place to prevent accidental damage.
  • Have the home professionally cleaned.
  • Check for water stains or leaks from the roof or plumbing systems.
  • Patch and paint walls and ceilings where needed.
  • How does the house smell? If the house has an unpleasant odor it may take longer to sell.
  • Replace floor coverings as needed.
  • De-personalize the home: pack up personal photographs, family heirlooms, religious items, etc. that may deter a buyer from seeing themselves living in the home.
  • Highlight the key features of the home by making sure they are not obscured by plants and furnishings.

HVAC

  • Service the HVAC unit.
  • Replace the air filter.
  • Pour vinegar down the condensation line.
  • Clean the air handler with vinegar and water.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for your home inspection is crucial to have a better report and easy process. Follow the tips above to prepare for your inspection and help ease the process.

While no inspection report will be completely clean, you can make some small adjustments for big impacts.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.