When it comes to the real estate market, a detailed home inspection report is sometimes required by local governments. The seller may produce their own inspection report, but the buyer can also opt to have their own inspection conducted by a different inspector.
Typically, a home inspection is done after the buyer signed the agreement purchase. Most buyers finalize the contract only after the home inspection is done. In case there are issues with the house, the buyer can ask the seller to repair it before signing the contract. If the seller is unwilling to fix the defects or if the buyer is not satisfied with the findings, they can back out from the deal. As a seller, you want the process to go as smoothly as possible so that you can sell the house easily.
So what do inspectors do? During the inception, home inspectors will examine your house from top to bottom. The electrical and plumbing system will be checked as well as the flooring, ceiling, walls, and the surrounding areas. The inspectors will also check for moulds, mildew and signs of water damage. If the buyer includes pest inspection, then your home will be inspected to determine if there are pests in your house and if a pest infestation is present.
As a seller, it’s only common to get nervous during a home inspection. As much as possible, you want to deal with pushing through, and you don’t want the buyer to back out. Luckily, there are things you can do to prepare your home for inspection.
Clean the house.
These tips may be simple, but it’s something that most sellers often neglect. Home inspectors can determine if the house is well maintained or not. If you have a clean and tidy home, it means that you care about your property. It’s always important to make a good impression. Not only do you need to clean the interior, but you also need to clean the exterior. Make sure that dirt and clutter are removed.
Provide easy access.
Note that home inspectors will check everything even hard to reach areas. Make sure that they have access to all areas throughout the property. If there are important areas that they can’t check because there are some things blocking their way, then that might give a wrong idea to the buyer. They might think that you have issues hidden in that particular area. So remove any clutter that may prevent home inspectors from checking the area such as your basement, attic, under the sink and furnace rooms.
Keep utilities connected.
Home inspectors will check for the lighting, faucet, shower, stove, dishwasher, air conditioner and other systems of the house so leave the utilities on. The inspector won;y be able to check for electrical issues or plumbing issues if utilities are off. If this happens, the inspection will need to be rescheduled, and this could delay the home buying process. It’s also possible that the decision of the buyer will be affected.
Prepare repair or home improvement documents.
If you have done remodelling projects or if there are new systems installed in the house, make the documents or invoices available for home inspectors to see. This will give peace of mind to potential buyers knowing that everything is inspected.
Leave the house on the day of the inspection.
Most of the time buyers will accompany the inspectors so they can check for themselves the condition of the house and ask the inspectors if they have concerns about certain issues they may find. While it’s okay to hang around so you can help point out some items to your potential buyer, it is still best if you leave the property once the buyer and inspectors arrive. If you are there, the inspectors or the buyer may feel awkward to talk about the defects or problems they may find in your home. The buyer may also feel uncomfortable asking questions. If you have pets, you should also take them with you. If you can’t take the pets, then make sure that they are safely created to make sure that no one will get hurt during the inspection.
To get a better view of the areas that the inspectors will examine, try to walk around your house and look close to the things that the inspectors will check: plumbing, gutter, electrical and structure of the house. If you find issues that need to be fixed, then call a professional to have the problem addressed. There are issues that you might not see, and that is okay. Even newly built houses have issues. The buyers are not really looking for perfection, but they just want to know if there are no unwanted surprises waiting for them. Just make sure that all areas are clean, accessible and well maintained.
