Home Inspection Tips for Sellers and Real Estate Professionals!

If Sellers and Real Estate Professional will implement the following home inspection tips, the home inspection will go much smoother and delays in closing due to the inspection contingency is more likely to be avoided.

• Inspection Tip One -


• Confirm the water to the residence is on.
• Confirm the electric service is on.
• Confirm the gas service is on and the pilot lights to the gas appliances are lit.

This is particularly important if the residence has been vacant or a substantial period of time or has been winterized.


• Inspection Tip Two - insure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, pets should be removed from the premises or secured outdoors. Remember, the inspection includes the exterior of the residence.



• Inspection Tip Three - do a few maintenance chores.
  
  
  • Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replace any dead batteries.
  • Replace all burnt out light bulbs, in both the indoor and outdoor fixtures. This will prevent the inspector reporting a fixture did not respond, which may lead someone to the conclusion there may be an electrical problem.
  • Replace any dirty air filters and/or any filters that aren't the correct size.
  • Trim tree limbs to 10ft from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.
    
    Trim Trees Back Like This                            Don't Leave Like This
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Trim Bushes Back
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  • Attend to broken or missing items like:
  • Doorknobs
  • Locks and Latches
  • Windowpanes and Window Locks
  • Screens
  • Gutters and Downspouts
  • Chimney Caps
  
  
• Inspection Tip Four -


• Remove stored items from the attic
• Remove stored items from the crawlspace
• Remove construction debris from the crawlspace and attic


• Inspection Tip Five -



• Remove items blocking access to the HVAC equipment and Water Heater(s)


Good                                               Bad














• Remove items blocking access to the Electrical Service Panel(s)


Good                                               Bad














• Remove items blocking access to the Crawlspace and Attic Access(es)


Good                                               Bad













Good                                               Bad
















• Inspection Tip Six - Unlock areas the home inspector must access to complete his inspection:



• Attic Doors or Hatches
• Electrical Service Panels
• Closets
• Fence Gates
• Crawlspace Access
• Detached Garages