5 Ways to Prepare for a Home Inspection

You’ve found a buyer, and both parties have signed the papers. Now, what? In a standard real estate transaction, the next step is the home inspection. A home inspection means having an inspector visit your home, and reporting on the conditions of your property.

If you’d like the home inspection process to go smoothly and to keep your buyer – yes, they can still opt out at this point – don’t stop reading. Below are 5 ways to prepare for a home inspection.

Keep a Clean House

This point’s straightforward, so we’ll make it quick. A messy and cluttered house makes it difficult for your inspector to assess areas that they need to examine. Not only does this leave a bad impression, but it also prolongs the amount of time needed to complete the home inspection.

Note: A home inspection usually takes 2-3 hours to complete.

Fix Your Toilets

As soon as a home inspector enters your home, they’ll likely dash into the bathroom. Not because they need to use your bathroom, but because they want to assess the conditions of your toilets.

Does your toilet run for a long time after you flush? Does it make weird noises? These are problems that are easy to ignore, but your home inspector will take note. Most toilet problems can be fixed DIY-style, so we recommend doing so before an inspector comes.

Replace Bad Bulbs

Dim, flickering, or dead bulbs – a home inspector will definitely take note of these things. This tells a home inspector one of two things. Either 1) it’s just the bulb that’s damaged or 2) there’s something wrong in the fixture’s wiring. The inspector will have to figure out whether it’s scenario one or two. Either, your home inspection will take longer now.

Replacing bad bulbs can help you avoid this entire dilemma altogether.

Provide Open Access to Areas That Need to be Checked

If your home inspector can’t get somewhere they need to be, that’s an immediate red flag. Clear away obstacles and clutter from areas that an inspector needs to look at.

Inside your house, the inspector will take special notice of basements, attics, furnace rooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen. Outside your house, the inspector will take note of the foundation, structural components, roof, and pipes.

Be Ready Ahead of Time

If your home inspector says they’ll be there by 2 PM, be ready by noon. Home inspectors are known to be early, and maybe they’re trying to catch you off-guard. Make sure all the utilities are turned on, and all parts of your house are clean and accessible. Then, prepare to vacate you, your family, and any pets from the home during the inspection.