Preparing your home for a home inspection can be key to selling your property in a timely fashion, says Dave Park, owner of Advantage Inspection in Raleigh, North Carolina. That’s why his firm has prepared a pre-home inspection checklist, so sellers can get it right the first time.
You did it: You sold your home, and in today’s market, that is really an accomplishment. The right agent found the right buyer. He fell in love with the home and both parties worked out a deal. I said “worked” out a deal, but in reality the work has only just begun.
First you have the buyer’s loan, then the buyer’s appraisal and then the buyer’s dreaded home inspection. That means someone will be hired to pick apart your home. He will go through your home and look in all the corners, behind all the doors, in the cabinets, under the house, and on the roof.
Thank goodness you will not have to be there while someone is going through your home, taking pictures, making notes and then giving a report. Did your home pass or fail? Was anything written that would make the potential buyers hate your home, your place, your castle?
First, here are some of the commonly asked questions about our service.
What Is a Home Inspection?
We are a real estate support service that evaluates the overall structural, mechanical and electrical condition of the home. We examine nearly all-visible construction components and evaluate whether these items are still serviceable. We note items that may need attention to help preserve their long-term integrity. We also give our client helpful advice on general home maintenance.
Is This a Code Compliance Inspection?
No. Many homes were built before codes were ever established. When codes were established, many counties adopted (enforced) their own version of these building codes. It would be impossible to verify the governing code for every time period in every county and make a compliance type inspection. We only make code comparisons to current insulation standards, and any safety-related items. (Examples: Picket spacing too far apart on a balcony handrail or the absence of a smoke detector).
Pre-Inspection Checklist
At Advantage Inspection, we understand that the inspection process is often time-sensitive, and therefore essential for an expedient closing. That is why we have prepared this pre-inspection checklist so that we can do our job efficiently:
- Insure that all electrical panels, mechanical systems and attic entries are accessible.
- Home inspectors are not allowed to move personal property of any kind.
- Confirm that all utilities are on and pilot flames are ignited.
- Provide keys for all doors and gates.
- Make sure that all domestic animals are secured.
- Change or clean dirty A/C filters.
- Clean the range exhaust filter if there is a greasy build-up (this can be a fire hazard).
- Check batteries in all your smoke detectors.
- Free windows that have been painted shut.
- Replace torn weather stripping around exterior doors.
- Replace missing switch or receptacle covers.
- Replace non-working light bulbs.
- Clean gutters and downspouts.
- Trim any tree limbs touching the roof of the house.
- Keep foundation vents open (except in frigid weather).
- Have your HVAC system serviced if it has been over a year since the last service.
That list is not scary. It’s basic, but will make your home accessible to the home inspector. Call Advantage Inspection if you have any questions about how to prepare your house for inspection.
We would like to emphasize the value and necessity of a pre-listing home inspection. Many home sellers, either in the desire to save the $200 to $500 that a good home inspection costs, or due to simple ignorance, have spent enormous sums of money repairing items that any good home inspector would have pointed out. A pre-listing inspection puts you in the driver’s seat for pricing, negotiations and repairs. It will eliminate last-minute hiccups that come from trying to find a contractor to repair a last-minute deficiency, or the shock of a big repair request.
So follow the checklist or have your home pre-inspected, because as we say at Advantage Inspection, peace of mind is the best advantage.
