How to Prepare Your Home for an Inspection

If you’re planning to sell your home, the last thing you need to do is worry about the home inspection and what it may uncover. As with any process, the more prepared you are ahead of time, the smoother the inspection will run.

No home is perfect, so just remember that potential buyers want a head’s up on any major issues with your home that could end up costing them down the road, much like you’ll want to know before purchasing your next home.

Here are some steps you can take to help streamline the home inspection process:

Step 1: Schedule repairs or cleaning before the home inspection. Instead of hoping the home inspector will miss any issues within your home, be proactive and take care of the things you already know about. Do you have a leaky faucet? Are there high-traffic areas with scuff marks and peeling paint? How about carpet stains? Sometimes when a number of smaller issues are apparent, potential buyers may see this as a red flag and wonder what else could be wrong that they’re not seeing.

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with common items found during a home inspection. This can help you prepare for your inspection. Simple fixes can go a long way, including: Cutting back shrubs, bushes, etc that are close to your home; Replacing or refreshing worn caulking around windows and doors or in the kitchen/bathrooms; Making sure gutters are free and clear of debris; Replacing lightbulbs or fixtures that don’t work well; and Testing all doors and windows to ensure they open/close/lock easily.

Step 3: Give the home inspector space. The best thing you can do is leave before the scheduled home inspection. In most cases, the potential buyer will want to be present, and they may feel uncomfortable asking the inspector questions if you’re there. Home inspections can take several hours to complete depending on a number of factors. Older and larger homes can add time to the inspection. Additional services such as wood-burning appliances can also add time. The home inspector will also point out important items like electrical disconnects and main water shutoff valves to the prospective buyer during the inspection.

Bonus Step: Take your preparation further by scheduling a pre-inspection. Did you know that a pre-inspection is available for your property before it’s even on the market? A pre-inspection highlights the sound investment buyers can expect upon purchasing your property. You’ll have a list prepared detailing any work that may need to be done in the future that can empower you to make some changes yourself prior to listing and/or equip you with the required information to show potential buyers that only minor repairs/upgrades are suggested by a trained professional. This helps take the guesswork out of the homebuying process for many buyers by boosting confidence in your property. A buyer is likely to discover issues with your home, so being forthcoming may mean one less condition on the offer as well as providing a higher level of confidence and transparency for your home sale. Click here to read more about how a pre-inspection can be an added tool when selling your home – especially in a hot market where bidding wars are a reality.

Have questions about how you can help ensure the inspection runs smoothly when selling your home? Answers are just a call or email away. Contact Steve at 403 878 7580.