Home Inspection Readiness: Sellers Tips

There are a few simple things to consider when planning to get your house ready for a home inspection and help take the stress out of selling your house.

De-clutter and Clean

Taking the time to remove trees back from the roof, debris/leaves from gutters and overgrown shrubs from around the foundation will help in the visual access of your property. Clean out the garage for access to pull-down ladders, breaker panels, water heater closets etc. You may have already tackled these chores before listing but if not, now is the time.

Review your previous home inspection

If you had a home inspection in the past, pull it out and take a look at some of the issues that were found. Hopefully you have addressed major issues and are mainly up to speed on any others. Although inspection mandates or Standards Of Practice (SOPs) can change from year to year, the basics should be the same.

If you have addressed any items on the report, be sure to make a note of it. Pride of ownership and good maintenance shows.

Consider making any small fixes

Items that you may overlook on a daily basis can influence the overall impression of a prospective buyer. Items such as burned-out light bulbs, overuse of electrical extension cords, etc., can end up on an inspector’s report.

Be 100% honest with your disclosures

Be 100% honest and accurate to your ability when filling out the disclosure part of your listing and contract.

A buyer will have access to this information and if everything is upfront before an offer is made, an inspection report that reveals those items will not be as much of a surprise. If roof or foundation issues are suspected, any reports that shed further information will be helpful.

Make the home accessible for inspection

The more the inspector can easily access, the less questions and further evaluation may be needed.

If the house is vacant, all utilities should be on and pilot lights lit. Unrestricted access to all breaker boxes, attics, water heater closets, HVAC systems, outlets, windows, etc. is needed in order to do a complete inspection.  If not accessible at the time, re-inspect fees can apply for any return visits (which you may be asked to pay) and/or further evaluation may be needed.

Share any information that makes the process easier

If you have any tips or information on appliances, sprinkler systems, water softeners etc, that information would be helpful. Not all inspections include the extra systems so that will help smooth the transition and result in fewer questions down the road.