Steps for Preparing for a Home Inspection
The home inspector needs access to certain areas of the home that are critical for the inspection. If there are obstacles that keep the inspector from completing a full inspection, this may cause delays for the entire transaction.
Give the inspector access to all areas of your home.
Areas like basements, attics, crawl spaces, and underneath sinks are key places that inspectors will check. Keep these areas free of clutter and readily accessible to the inspector. Make sure all doors are unlocked so that the inspector can easily inspect each area of your home.
Prepare the exterior of the home.
When items are leaning up against the house, it will be harder for the inspector to see the full exterior. Some of the places that the inspector will look are around windows, doors, and the foundation. Make sure that those areas are clear and easily accessible to the inspector.
Keep the house clean when preparing for a home inspection.
If you’ve been in the process of selling a home, you should already be keeping your home clean for when potential buyers take a tour. Preparing for a home inspection includes maintaining a clean home even after someone has placed an offer. Make sure your home is neat and tidy for the inspector.
Make sure all light fixtures are properly working.
Check that all light fixtures are in proper working order. This could be as simple as replacing a light bulb. In preparing for a home inspection, look for things that could raise a red flag. If a light bulb is missing or out, it could present a red flag to the inspector.
Fix running toilets.
Something as simple as fixing a running toilet can make the difference between a favorable home inspection and an unfavorable one. It sends the message that you haven’t been maintaining your home. Fixing a toilet is usually an easy DIY job.
Replace filters.
Make sure that all of the dirty filters are replaced throughout the home. Clean HVAC filters suggest that you’ve provided decent maintenance of the home during the time you’ve lived there.
Fix Small Defects When Preparing for a Home Inspection
Preparing for a home inspection includes looking around for small defects. Make sure your interior and exterior doors function properly. If the doors don’t close or open freely, this could be a sign of foundation issues and will be noted in the report. Look for leaks and water damage and try to repair them before the inspection.
In preparing for a home inspection, do everything you can to make your home accessible, clean, and functional. Even small issues will be reported in the inspection report.
Elite Inspections provides home inspection services to Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding communities. Contact us to schedule an inspection.