Doesn’t it feel good to have a contract on the home that you are selling?
Of course, it does. But there are a few more obstacles to navigate before the deal is completed, and one of those obstacles is the home inspection.
Home inspections are typically ordered by potential buyers (or their real estate agents) to ensure that a home is in good condition and free of any major issues that could cost them money down the line.
Getting your home ready for a home inspection is an important step in the process of selling your home quickly. In doing so, you can increase the likelihood of a successful inspection and potentially avoid any surprises that could derail the sale of your home.
In this article, we will discuss some of the key steps that you can take to prepare your home for a home inspection. From addressing major issues to performing basic maintenance tasks, these tips can help you ensure that your home is in top condition when the inspector arrives.
Address any major issues before the inspection
One of the most important steps that you can take when preparing for a home inspection is to address any major issues that you are aware of. This includes things like leaks, electrical problems, and structural issues.
These issues can be expensive to repair, and they can also give potential buyers cause for concern.
By addressing these issues before the inspection, you can demonstrate that you are a responsible homeowner who has taken care of their property.
Hire a professional to perform a pre-inspection
Once you have addressed the issues you are aware of, another prudent step is to hire a professional to perform a pre-inspection to discover issues that you may not have known about.
A pre-inspection is a comprehensive inspection of your home that is conducted by a professional home inspector. This inspection can help you identify any issues that the inspector is likely to find during the actual inspection.
Use the pre-inspection report as a “to-do” list and fix as many items as possible. By addressing these issues ahead of time, you can increase the likelihood of a successful inspection.
Make sure that all utilities are turned on
Before the home inspector arrives, make sure that all utilities are turned on. This includes electricity, water, and gas.
The inspector will need to test various systems in your home, and they will need these utilities to be active in order to do so.
If any of the utilities are turned off, it could delay the inspection or even cause the inspector to reschedule.
This tip may seem obvious if you are still living in your home, but many sellers who have moved out of the home often overlook this requirement for utilities.
Provide easy access to all areas of your home
The inspector will need access to all areas of your home in order to perform a thorough inspection. This includes attics, crawl spaces, and other hard-to-reach areas.
Make sure that all of these areas are easily accessible by removing any obstacles or clutter that might be in the way.
Perform basic maintenance tasks
Performing basic maintenance tasks can also help you prepare your home for a home inspection.
This includes things like changing air filters, checking smoke detectors, and cleaning gutters. These are all easy items that the inspector will check, so it makes sense for you to quickly check them too.
By performing these tasks, you can demonstrate that you have taken care of your home and that it is in good condition.
Treat the inspection like a showing
Finally, make sure that your home is clean and presentable before the inspector arrives.
This includes cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas of your home that are likely to be inspected. Turn on all lights and open all blinds or curtains just like you would for a showing appointment.
In addition to giving the inspector a favorable impression, a secondary reason to treat the inspection like a showing is that the buyers of your home will likely be present at the inspection. Since inspections can last hours, you want to ensure that your buyers don’t have second thoughts after spending a good deal of time in your home.
A clean and presentable home gives buyers confidence in the condition of your home and can help ensure a successful inspection.
Conclusion
Preparing your home for a home inspection is a key part of your home-selling process.
By addressing major issues, hiring a professional to perform a pre-inspection, making sure that all utilities are turned on, providing easy access to all areas of your home, performing basic maintenance tasks, and treating the inspection like a showing, you can increase the likelihood of a successful inspection and ensure that your home is in top condition for buyers.
With these tips in mind, you can confidently prepare your home for a home inspection and move one step closer to a successful sale.
