Preparing for a Home Inspection

This topic was bound to come up. When you are selling your home, you are going to have to prepare for the inspection process. This can take a great of your time to prepare for, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. This step is going to be important and deserved a section all its own.

Here are the things that you should do when you are preparing for your home inspection.

1.  You will want to remove mulch from contact with your home’s siding.

2. Clean out all of the dirt and debris from the roof.

3. Move water away from house from places like downspouts, sump pump, condensation drain, etc.

4. Trim all of your trees, roots and bushes back from the home’s foundation, roof, siding, and chimney.

5. Paint all of your weathered outside wood, and caulk around trim, chimneys, windows and even the doors.

6. Seal your driveways if they are chipped or cracking.

7. Seal your chimney caps. If you must install metal flue cap.

8. Clean or replace your HVAC filter. Clean out your dirty air returns too.

9. Point up any failing mortar joints if needed.

10. Test all of your smoke detectors to be sure they work.

11. Update you attic’s ventilation if needed.

12. Clean & service your chimney, or fireplace.

13. Seal and paint your basement if you have any stains on them.

14. Fix all of your windows and doors.

15. Put all of your plumbing fixtures, toilet, tub, shower, sinks, in good working order.

16. Install GFCI receptacles in the right areas, and be sure that they are working properly.

17. Check your sump pump to be sure it’s working properly.

18. Replace any burned out light bulbs.

19. Remove any rotting wood, or firewood from home contact.

20. Caulk all exterior walls, showers, tiles etc.

21. Check around to make sure that your crawl spaces are dry and install a proper vapor barrier. You also want to get rid of any moisture.

22. Check that all of your vents are working properly.

23. Remove any and all paints, solvents, gas, etc. from every room in the home.

24. Check that all of your plumbing is secure and rust free.

25. Check that your toilets are not cracked.

This is by no means the only things that you should do, but they will get you started. When you get ready for the inspection it is important that your home is clean and aired out properly.

Also, check for and get rid of any pests that frequent your home. Most of them will be found in cool and dark and damp areas of the home like the attic, basement and crawlspaces. Fixing these things will make the inspection take less time and will give you a better chance at passing the inspection.