What Is the Best Way to Prepare for an Inspection?

The real estate market has seen a massive increase over the last decade. This means that people are now considering buying instead of renting their next residence. Homebuyers are no longer interested in living in subpar housing. They want homes that meet current standards and provide the most value possible. As a seller, you might wonder what is the best way to prepare for an inspection.

An experienced person can save you hundreds of dollars. A reputable inspector will inspect every aspect of your property. He or she will look at things such as roofs, electrical wiring, appliances, heating systems, plumbing, doors, and windows. But let’s start from the beginning - what to expect from an inspection?

What to Expect from an Inspection?

Home inspections are an important step in buying or selling your home. A home inspection gives buyers and sellers alike a chance to see if there are any major structural defects in the property. It also allows them to get a sense of whether the house is livable, and if not, to negotiate a lower price.

Home inspectors usually visit the property at least three times during the course of the inspection. During each visit, they'll check the roof, walls, floors, foundation, heating system, plumbing, electrical systems, appliances, windows, doors, insulation, drywall, ceilings, attic space, crawlspace, garage, exterior siding, decks, fences, landscaping, and other areas.

Home Inspection Costs

Home inspections are often done by professionals, and sometimes buyers will pay for them themselves. This can help you feel confident about buying a house. If you're selling your home, you might also want to arrange for your own inspection.

You could even ask if the seller will pay for it. That gives you time to fix any problems you find. This means that you should always hire an inspector yourself. You should also ask your realtor if they know any inspectors who might be interested in working with you.

Either way, an ideal situation suggests that a property should be inspected twice - once before a seller lists it to establish its condition and possible repairs, and the second time before a buyer goes along with the sale to meet all contingencies.

What do home inspectors look for?

A certified home inspector will check all aspects of your home, from heating systems to windows. They'll also check the roof, foundation, walls, ceilings, floors, attic, and basement. A certified home inspector will inspect everything from the exterior to the interior of your home

Structural Components

Inspectors aren't allowed to enter your home unless you give them permission. However, if you're willing to let them see inside, they'll be able to tell whether there's any damage to the structural components of your home.

If there are issues with the structure, it’s considered a major repair. In that case, you may need to call a professional to fix it before they can sign off on your home inspection.

Clean and Declutter

If you're planning to sell your house, then you should consider hiring an experienced professional to clean out your home before listing it. This will help you sell your property faster and at a higher price.

If you hire a professional, they'll be able to thoroughly clean out every inch of your home, including areas that you may not even think about. You can save yourself time and money by getting rid of clutter and junk first.

If you haven't used something in over a year or if it doesn't bring you joy, then it should go. You don't need it anymore. Decluttering helps you feel organized and ready for any type of inspection. It will help you focus on what matters most when preparing for an inspection.

Prepare all Areas of the Property

Your attic, basement, garage, and other storage areas might seem like a place to put stuff you don’t need anymore, but they will be on a home inspection list, so make sure to keep them neat and tidy.

We also recommend moving items out of these spaces temporarily when preparing for an inspection. Closets packed full of boxes, clothes, sports gear, and more is a big turnoff to potential buyers.

During the visit, an inspector will need to check your appliances to make sure they are in good working order. You may need to remove items like furniture to make space for them to move around. It is also important to clean up any clutter and debris in the area to help prevent injury.

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is all about the exterior. We’re maybe not judging a book by its covers, but we’re judging a house by its front and back yard, paint job, and neat pool. Make sure that there aren't any issues with the foundation, roof, or plumbing. If you've got a pool, make sure it's safe and ready to use. And lastly, make sure the lawn is well maintained.

All Utilities Should Be Maintained

If you're still living in the house, your utility bills should be paid. You'll need to turn on the water, electricity, and gas to ensure everything works properly. If you've already listed your home, an inspector will need to check that the utilities are turned on. If not, they’ll need to contact you about turning them back on.

If you see something out of place, fix it right away. Make sure all appliances are plugged in properly, and that there are no loose wires. Check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector regularly, and replace any batteries if necessary.

Also, check your breaker box to ensure that every switch is labeled correctly and that all labels are easy to read. Check your smoke detectors regularly. Replace any batteries that need replacing. If there are any problems, call an expert to come and fix them.

Stay on Top of Your Maintenance Before the Pre-Inspection

You should always keep an eye out for potential problems before the professionals arrive. If you're not sure what needs to be done, keep track of all things in the house that are harder to do than they should be

There are always little things that we all avoid fixing because they are minor inconveniences. These little things might be an issue once the inspector comes to check everything out, so it would be best to get them out of the way.

Provide maintenance records

If you've ever done any home improvements, renovations, or repairs, it might be helpful if you provided them to an expert who comes to do an inspection. For example, this would help explain any changes that weren't on the original building plan.

The Lenght of an Inspection

An average house inspection usually takes between 2 and 4 hours, unless there are extraordinary circumstances. The length of an inspection can vary based on:

Size of the home

Number of defects

Depth of the inspector

How well the homeowner prepares for the inspection.

Should sellers make repairs before the inspection?

When you're selling your house, you'll want to get a home inspection done before listing. Home inspections help buyers understand all aspects of the home, including any potential problems.

You might know about a few things yourself, like if there's a leaky faucet or if the roof needs repair. But you won't know everything. A professional home inspection will give you a complete picture of the property.

Cherry picking is when you choose only the best parts of something. You pick out only the best parts of an object, like the best parts of a fruit salad. It's not always bad, but it can be very misleading if you're trying to get a full picture of what someone does well.

How to Avoid Repairment Hassle?

Inspection is the key component of every home sale. However, there are ways to skip out on repair costs. SleeveUp Homes will buy your house as-is, with no renovation needed, not even a fresh coat of paint.

We will buy your house for top dollar with $10,000 guaranteed above what others offer. Contact us, or better yet, request an offer and see it for yourself.

Author:

Cesar Gomez , Broker /

Cesar has worked as a real estate agent and broker in the southern California region since 2013.

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