Home inspections are a key part of the selling process. Here are some of the last-minute items to check off your to-do list leading up to inspection day.
Home inspections are incredibly powerful tools within the home sales space. Whether an owner is completing a pre-listing inspection or coordinating with a prospective buyer to have a whole house inspection done, the finishing touches on your home inspection preparation can make a monumental difference for the inspector.
“Preparing for the home inspection can be a bit nerve-racking for some owners, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Adam Long, president of HomeTeam Inspection Service. “Home inspections are done to ensure everyone involved is aware and protected. With the right inspectors and proper preparation, the process can be simple and relatively quick.”
Though the state of the home at a foundational level cannot be altered just days or hours before the inspection, there are steps owners can take to minimize challenges for the inspector. Completing this checklist is a quick and easy way to ensure the home inspection does not become more complicated or time-consuming than necessary.
Complete Any Easy Fixes
If possible, the owner should do any repairs or replacements that can reasonably be completed. This includes things like replacing blown-out lightbulbs, removing clogs from drains, ensuring smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working, and ensuring the functionality of light fixtures, fans, garage doors and any other remotes.
This makes the inspection easier as the inspector is not left to work in the dark, delayed with a beeping smoke detector or struggling with remotes.
Make Sure Everything Is Easy to Find and Access
On inspection day, there are a few things to do prior to vacating the home.
Take dishes out of the dishwasher and make sure all interior doors are unlocked. Make sure utilities are on, and leave remotes for fans, lights and the garage door in an easily accessible place. If you have a well or septic tank, providing a sketch or clarification of where the inspector may locate it can be helpful.
What Are Some Other Special Considerations?
While most buyers do not attend a home inspection with expectations of perfection, there are easy ways to make their experience more positive.
For pet owners: When you leave the home ahead of the inspection, take your pets with you! Any pet waste should be removed from the yard or indoor litter boxes ahead of the inspection and pet toys should be tidied up.
If you live in a flood zone: Repair any water damage ahead of time. It is highly likely that the buyer will be aware that the home is in a flood zone, but visible flood-related water damage can inhibit a home sale.
In bug-rich geographies: If possible, exterminate any indoor pests ahead of the inspection. Some owners also check for and remove outdoor pests like ant hills and wasp nests.
In the fall: Check on the gutters. Fallen leaves can clog gutters and cause issues long-term. Though gutters should be cleaned regularly to maintain the health of the structure, ensuring they are clean ahead of an inspection allows the inspector to more easily view and evaluate the state of the gutters.
