Did you know that Americans sold around 5.3 million homes in 2018?
Selling your home is a stressful time. There are many things that are fighting for your attention. But the prospect of selling your home is exciting as well.
Many home sellers forget about an important part of the process. This is the home inspection. Buyers want this done because they need the peace of mind that your property contains no hidden problems.
What is a home inspection? What should you do before the inspector comes over? In this article, we’ll cover the frequently asked questions about home inspections.
So, what is a home inspection?
Home inspections are carried out to evaluate the state of your home. You may get a home inspection done on your property before you put it on sale. In most cases, though, it’s the buyer who hires a home inspector.
Hiring a home inspector before selling your primary residence isn’t a bad idea, says Uptown Dallas Properties. When your inspector finds any issues, you can get the necessary repairs done before unveiling your home on the housing market.
What do home inspectors check?
They will inspect many areas of your home for major issues, including:
- Electrical problems
- The condition of sinks, toilets, and tubs
- Excess moisture or water damage
- The foundation and structural integrity
- The condition of windows and doors
- Your roof and chimney
- Plumbing problems
How to get ready for a home inspection?
We’ve put together some steps to make your home ready for inspection.
- Clean your home
While this may be the most obvious thing to do, many homeowners are in such a rush that they forget about cleaning. Your home inspector won’t check cleanliness, but a clean home sends a positive signal about the owner. And it’s a practical matter as well. The inspection will go much quicker if there’s no junk on the inspector’s way.
- Leave keys for electrical boxes and outbuildings.
Allow easy access for the inspector to enter your outbuildings and check the electrical boxes by leaving them the necessary keys. Make sure the keys are labeled.
You can leave them in the living room or on the kitchen table. Do the same for any remote controls, such as a garage door opener.
- Allow the inspector to access your attic, crawlspace and or basement.
The home inspector wants to enter your basement and attic. If you have any boxes or items against the walls, move them at least two feet away. Remove spider webs and rodent droppings. Make sure there is no water in your basement.
- Go over the following checklist:
- Are the toilets functioning as they should?
- Check that the windows open and close properly.
- Unclog any backed-up drains.
- Make sure the locks work.
- Check your lightbulbs and light switches.
- Take care of any pest issues.
- Replace worn-out HVAC system filters.
- Re-caulk around sinks and tubs.
- Are the smoke detectors up to date?
- Do you have fire extinguishers? Check for expiration dates.
- Fix leaky faucets and plumbing issues.
Most of the problems in this list are minor. But the home inspector takes note of these and small issues add up.
- Provide the paperwork.
Provide the home inspector with any documents and invoices for new items or remodeling projects. For example, did you switch from ungrounded to a grounded electrical system? Or maybe you installed a new water heater? All of these documents should be handed over for inspection.
- Leave your home for the duration of the inspection.
The home inspection can last anywhere between 2-5 hours. It’s better if you leave your home for the time being. Your inspector may call you or your agent if there are any questions needing an answer.
Always be on time. Home inspectors are known for arriving earlier than planned. Say, you have an appointment with a home inspector for 9:00 a.m. It’s a good idea to be ready for the inspection at 8:00 a.m.
Do you have any pets? It’s polite to take them with you. This makes the inspector’s job easier.
The bottom line: how to get ready for a home inspection?
Home inspections give buyers peace of mind regarding the property’s state. Any major faults, hazards, or issues are uncovered by a qualified home inspector. Some sellers get an inspection done before they put their home on the market. In most cases, it’s the buyer that orders the home inspection.
Get ready for the home inspection by doing the following:
- Clean your home
- Provide necessary documents
- Take care of minor repairs
- Leave important keys
- Allow access to all the spaces
- And last but very important, leave your home for the inspection. Buyers want their inspector to be able to do their inspection without interruption.