How to Have a Better Home Inspection; A Guide for Sellers

A home inspector evaluates four out of every five homes that are sold and 84% of buyers request a home inspection, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

If you are on the selling side of the transaction, you should assume that the buyers are going to request an inspection. Wouldn't you want to the inspection to go as smoothly and problem-free as possible? Of course you do! Here are a few things you should do ahead of time to prepare for the inspection.

• Walk around your home and look for problems like gutters that are disconnected, loose steps, missing hand rails, and check for any rotting wood that is touching the house. These items will come up on a home inspection, so you should repair them now.

• Clean out your gutters.

• Check the roof for loose or missing shingles.

• Make sure every window has a screen and they are free of cracks.

• Check for any other outside items that might look neglected.

Buyers Look for These Things When Viewing Homes For Sale

• Bathrooms
  -Fix any leaky toilets, faucets that drip, and make sure all electrical outlets work!
  -Make sure the toilet is properly fastened to the floor.
  -Make sure the fan is working properly.
  -Make sure all light fixtures have light bulbs and that they work.

• Now is the time to give your air conditioning and heating system a check up, and make sure it is properly serviced.

Checklist to Prepare For Your Home Showing ~ Home Selling Tips

•  Clean out basement and attic crawl space to make room for the home inspector to do his job.

• In the kitchen, make sure all appliances (that are being sold with the house) are working properly.

• If you have baseboard heaters, turn them all on to ensure they are working properly.

The items on this list are all things that the home inspector will check, but are minor enough that you can get the process started on your own by making sure everything is in tip top shape. Always remember that while you may have been completely fine with a dripping faucet or a heater that doesn't work in one room, they will be addressed on the home inspection report.

To ensure you have the best home inspection you can, start by checking these things off of your list. That way if something major is found during the inspection, you'll be able to better negotiate with the buyers.

More articles about preparing a home for sale.

My name is Barbara Bottitta and I am a Realtor/Partner with Keller Williams Real Estate and team leader for the Barb Bottitta Team of Lehigh Valley Home Experts. Our team of professionals include a listing and closing specialist so that from the starting line to the dotted line you won’t find another agent or team that provides better service, works harder – or cares more – than the Barb Bottitta Team.  My husband, Lou, and I have lived in LowerMac for over 30 years; our grown children, Lisa and Matt (Tito) attended Emmaus High School and we feel fortunate that our grandson, Ethan, is growing up in the Lehigh Valley as well.

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