Prepare Your Home For Inspection

If your home is on the market, you know there’s an inspection in your future. Whether you decide to do a pre-inspection or not, you should still plan to spend a week or so getting ready for the inspection. 

Make sure the inspector has access to all areas of your home. Here are some of the most important places:

Attic. If your attic is accessed through a closet, take time to clear away clutter so the inspector can get up there quickly and easily. Have a ladder at the ready if needed.

Basement. Clear everything away from the exterior walls of the basement so they can be seen.

Utilities. Clear around the furnace, air conditioner, water heater and circuit breaker boxes.

Foundation. Clear brush away from the foundation.

Keep electricity on. If your home is vacant, be sure to have the electricity turned on when the inspector comes. Otherwise many aspects of the inspection can’t be done, causing delay.

Keep pilot lights lit. Again, if the home is vacant, make sure to have any gas appliances on to avoid delays in the inspection process.

Print and copy documents of any mechanical upgrades and maintenance.

Replace furnace filters.

Replace burned out light bulbs.

Check all receptacles. If any aren’t working, it could be a simple fix for a few dollars.

You don’t want any question marks on your home inspection report. This could be a perceived as a black mark against your home.  Most sellers get nervous about the home inspection, but with these tips in mind, you can pave the way to a smooth, one-time process that is just another step in moving on.

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