Selling your home has many steps. If you’ve gotten to the point that you’ve accepted an offer and the buyer has scheduled a home inspection, you are in the home stretch. However, the home inspection can be a turning point if it doesn’t go well. It’s important to do everything you can to help the home inspection go easily and smoothly for the inspector and buyer. You won’t be present at the inspection, so check these items off your list in advance to prepare for a home inspection.
Provide Access to All Areas to Prepare for a Home Inspection
A home inspector will need to inspect all areas of your home, including crawlspaces, utility rooms, attics, outbuildings, garages, and basements. You won’t be there to unlock a door or move something heavy out of the way, so if an area is inaccessible, it won’t get inspected. This is a problem because the buyer will receive an incomplete inspection report and wonder if you may be hiding something about the inaccessible area. The buyer will likely have to schedule another time for the inspector to come out, slowing everything down. You want to progress towards the closing as quickly as possible, so make sure that all areas are accessible for the inspection.
Contain Pets
It’s important that your pets aren’t running around the house during the inspection. Someone could accidentally let them out the door and they could run away. They also might get into an area they aren’t allowed in, like the basement. Take your pets out of the house during the inspection or put them in a secure crate.
Replace Light Bulbs to Prepare for a Home Inspection
It’s not customary for an inspector to carry around extra light bulbs to troubleshoot why a light won’t turn on. If there is an out light, it will be marked in the report and there won’t be a differentiation between a blown light bulb and a broken fixture or wiring problem. Avoid this situation by replacing any dead light bulbs before the inspection.
Clean Up Clutter
If there are any cluttered areas that will prevent the inspector from being able to inspect things like the water heater or under-cabinet piping, clean this up. The inspection report will be more thorough and the pictures will be easier to understand if there is not a lot of junk in the way. You don’t want your buyer to get frustrated by not being able to see past piles of clutter in the photos of the inspection report.
Provide Documentation
Any improvements that you have made to your home should be backed up with documentation. If you had a new roof put on 2 years ago or replaced the HVAC system recently, provide that information for the inspector. Proof that you invested in your home will help it look more favorable to your buyer.
Elite Home Inspections offers pre-listing home inspections and home inspections for buyers to Louisville and the surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule your inspection.