10 steps to prepare for a home inspection.
Preparing for your home inspection is crucial when selling your home or purchasing a new home. Not only will the inspection process go a little faster, but the inspector can provide a more thorough inspection, allowing the report to be a little easier to read.
Make sure the inspector has access, not only to the house, but also to the furnace, water heater and air-conditioning units (especially in closets, attics and crawlspaces).
Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service, panels, water heaters, etc.
Check to see that the water heater, utility panel and shutoffs and resets for ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) within are accessible.
Unlock areas the inspector must access, such as attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawlspaces.
Ensure that all utility services are on, with gas pilot lights burning.
Tell your agent about any pets at home. Ideally, they should be removed from the premises or secured. Please contact inspection company about any specific instructions. Please keep in mind that doors, windows, and access points in and out of home will be tested.
Replace burned-out bulbs to avoid a “light did not operate” report that may suggest an electrical problem.
Remove stored items, debris and wood from the foundation. These may be cited as conditions conducive to wood-destroying insects.
Trim tree limbs to 10 feet from the roof and shrubs to 1 foot from the house to allow access.
Attend to broken or missing items such as doorknobs, locks and latches, windowpanes, screens and locks, and gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.
Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property, and will expedite your closing.
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