Home Inspection Preparation Tips
Here is some great home inspection preparation advice for home sellers (and their Realtors) from the Collin County Association of Realtors Inspector Committee. Following these guidelines will enable the homeowner to avoid getting marked up for minor deficiencies — and make life easier for the home inspector.
These are also good things to check and fix before showing a house. We often encounter these during our Frisco home inspection work. They make it easier for the prospective buyer to traverse and examine the house, and eliminate issues that might cause them to question how well the home was maintained.
— Mike Martin, Dallas Home Inspector
BEING PREPARED FOR INSPECTION DAY
A quick guide for listing agents and sellers
- Make sure all utilities are ON inside the home.
- Clear the areas around the electric panel, water heater, furnace and air conditioner to give Inspector full access.
- Unlock gates and doors.
- Clear attic access and landing areas.
- Clear out closets to access crawl space (under floor area).
- Leave the fireplace gas key on the mantle.
- Empty the dishwasher and oven.
- Make arrangements to secure or remove pets.
- Remove pet waste from the yard.
- Clean the swimming pool.
- No unsupervised minors in the house during the inspection.
- Be prepared to leave the house for about 3-4 hours (varies).
REDUCING ITEMS ON AN INSPECTION REPORT
12 easy fixes for homeowners:
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors and/or install smoke detectors in each bedroom, hall and on each floor level.
- Replace missing or broken switch and outlet cover plates.
- Repair leaky faucets.
- Tighten loose doorknobs.
- Repair or replace exterior door weather stripping.
- Caulk doors and windows at the exterior brick siding.
- Replace damaged or missing screens.
- Replace broken panes of glass in doors and windows.
- Replace burned-out light bulbs.
- Secure loose hand and stair railings.
- Patch holes and cracks in walls and ceilings, then repaint.
- Replace heating and air conditioning filters.
Actionable Home Inspection Preparation Advice
Brought to you by the Collin County Association of Realtors® Inspector Committee