We know what you’re thinking: why should I spend money for a home inspection when a buyer will surely conduct their own anyway?
By discovering the problems now, you have ample time to address them. And the fewer problems the buyer finds during their inspection, the more leverage you have during price negotiations.
Before booking a professional inspection, make sure to do the following preparations first:
Make inspection easier
Inspectors can’t evaluate an area they can’t access and they might mark this as a red flag. Clear your attic of clutter, unlock all doors, and move cabinets that obstruct crawl spaces. Inspectors will also check on details like sidings, window caulking, and gutters. In that case, trim tree branches or plants that might be obscuring these areas.
Leave utilities on
Operating the stove, dishwasher, AC unit, and toilets/showers are all part of an inspector’s run-through. But they can’t do so if the gas line, water supply, and power are turned off. The inspector will use these the same way a buyer would, which is to say they should operate without a hitch. Make sure that is the case.
Clean your house
Technically, cleanliness does not factor into a home inspector’s evaluation. However, a dirty house gives the impression that you were negligent with maintenance. Furthermore, it’s rude to make inspectors crawl into dusty crawlspaces or have them open a grimy oven. Cleaning these shows respect for your inspector.
Check your roofing
Your roof is one of the most important, yet most overlooked parts of the home. If there are any issues with it, water can seep into your home and damage your walls, pose electrical risks, and encourage mold growth. Grab a ladder, inspect your roof, and repair what you can before the inspection date.
Inspect your doors
Aside from being entryways, doors play an important role in keeping out intruders — if they’re working properly, that is. Unfortunately, heat and cold can warp both the doorknob and the door frame. A door that doesn’t latch smoothly or has a broken lock is a huge security concern that inspectors will surely flag.
Do a safety run-through
When was the last time you changed the batteries in your fire and carbon monoxide alarms? Is your fire extinguisher’s pressure within normal operating range? Do light bulbs in stairways provide adequate illumination? It’s easy to forget these things, but they can cause a huge ding in your home’s safety evaluation.
Spot signs of water damage
Water damage can be insidious: it starts in oft-overlooked areas and is brought to light only when major problems like mold outbreaks have already taken hold. And you can be sure that water damage will be high on an inspector’s list of problems to watch out for. Be one step ahead by finding and fixing water leaks now.
Commissioning a pre-sale home inspection is a great goodwill gesture that increases your chances of finding a buyer. If you fail to prepare for it, however, it may very well backfire on you. Hopefully, the tips above will help you ace the evaluation.
Take your real estate transaction to us, the Lady of the Lake Team, and you will be assured of top-notch services from a consistent leader in the business. We can be reached at 936.525.0095 or via email at katherine(at)lakeconroe(dotted)com.
