You need to pass a home inspection to sell your home.A home inspector will be looking for issues with the home that may factor into your negotiations with potential buyers, and poor inspection results can lower the amount you're able to get for the house, postpone the sale, or even prevent you from selling it altogether.Make sure to address any potential issues before your home inspection.
Step 1: Look for signs of water damage.
If you see signs of water damage, it's a good idea to hire a home inspector.ceiling stains are of great concern.Ceiling stains indicate that water has gotten somewhere it shouldn't have.Home inspectors will be interested in a more serious issue if the stain came from something.Keeping a home inspector from suspecting faulty plumbing or a poor exterior seal by repairing water damaged portions of the ceiling ensures that there is not a recurring cause of water damage.
Step 2: Potential electrical issues should be addressed.
Changes in the electrical code after work is done can cause electrical issues when someone who occupied the house does their own electrical maintenance.Poor inspection results will be caused by anything that has not been done according to code.Make sure your panel boxes are up to code.If you're uncertain about something, consider hiring an electrical contractor.All outlets in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink should be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets.Accidents can be prevented if appliances are exposed to water.The electrical panel should only have one wire on it.Double-tapped breakers are dangerous.All outlets in the home should be grounded.
Step 3: Make sure the bathroom is properlyventilated.
If the home you are hoping to sell is older and there are no windows, there's a good chance it won't meet current construction standards.If you have an interior bathroom, make sure the exhaust fans vent to the exterior of the home.
Step 4: The exterior wood has begun to rot.
If the rotting is insignificant, replace it.Regular exterior painting can be a sign of a lack of maintenance.There are areas around the decks that need to be checked.Make sure to touch up any spots where the paint has begun to degrade.
Step 5: The plumbing in the home should be up to par.
Many homes have at least one or two plumbing issues that need to be addressed before an inspection.Slow drains, loose toilets, and leaking faucets should be replaced.The valves of boilers and water heaters will be inspected by a home inspector.If they are found to be faulty, they can be easily replaced by a plumbing professional.
Step 6: The home's exterior should be closed.
Poor seals or cracks can be found in windows and chimneys.fogging of the glass is a sign of poor window seal.Cracks and loose mortar can be found in the chimney when it is exposed to the weather.If one isn't present, install a metal cap to protect the chimney.If there are cracks near the top of the chimney, they can be fixed by a mason, but if there is a large crack at the base, it's a good idea to consult a professional.Make sure the roof vent is metal and not plastic.When plastic venting cracks, it can cause a lot of damage.To make sure the chimney had been installed correctly, inspect the flashing around it.The paint may be peeling if not.
Step 7: Check for mold.
If you think there is no chance of mold in the home, double check.One of the most common things found by a home inspector is mold in the attic.You should have a professional test for mold.Black patches on walls, ceilings, and shower curtains are signs that there is mold present, so a professional can help you determine the extent of the problem.
Step 8: Remediate any issues with the home.
If you purchase a test kit at a home improvement store or online, you can test for the presence of the radioactive gas.Along with mold, homeowners are often unaware of other issues such as radon.Sometimes homes are entered through cracks in the home's foundation due to the naturally occurring gas of Radon.If testing is required by law where you live or if you have paid extra for it, home inspectors may test for Radon.It can be done relatively easily, and should be addressed as soon as possible.It is more important that the water in your home is free of Radon.If there is a presence of Radon above 4.0 pCi/L, it's a good indicator of the level of water that needs to be cleaned.It is possible to install a radon detector.
Step 9: You should check on your basement and crawl spaces.
Reseal basement walls if there are any minor cracks present.Vapor barriers should be installed in below-ground crawl spaces.If your basement or crawl space has windows below ground level, make sure they are clean and undamaged.Though easy to overlook, there are a few things that should never be stored in crawl spaces.If they are present in these areas, they should be removed.
Step 10: If there are unaddressed issues, fill out a disclosure form.
To the fullest extent possible, address any issues with your home.If you don't have the funds or time to fix significant issues, fill out a seller disclosure form, listing all of the defects you are aware of.Disclosure forms are required in many states.Your negotiations may be affected by defects in the home that are identified during a home inspection ordered by a potential buyer.Let the public know about any known defects.
Step 11: There is a seller's inspection.
Before you put your house on the market, consider ordering a home inspection of your own.It is worth hiring a home inspector of your own to make sure you are aware of any issues that need to be addressed, since prospective buyers will usually be the ones hiring one.You can show positive assessments to prospective buyers or share information about any issues you have already addressed by having a home inspection completed.Your inspector may be able to point out issues that need to be addressed during the inspection.
Step 12: Leave a note with the location of the things.
Plan to not be present for the inspection but leave a note to let the inspector know where to look.The inspector will appreciate you pointing them out if they are hard to find.There are hidden entries beneath homes with pier and beam foundations.Provide proof that the system is working.The inspector won't look at your tank.It is your responsibility to provide proof of a professional inspection that shows the condition of the tank.Don't leave a loose pet at home, as you do not want the inspector to be startled or have to deal with an animal.
Step 13: It's a good idea to make paperwork readily available.
Documentation regarding maintenance and repairs of the home should be kept and provided.Evidence of finance inspections, receipts for repairs, and insurance claims should be included in these.You should be able to prove that you have addressed any issues that have arisen in the home.If you live in an area that requires permits, a remodeling would need to be included.
Step 14: Be prepared for an early arrival.
Home inspectors will arrive at a home early.If they are also attending the inspection, some prefer to do a quick run-through.
Step 15: Keep boxes out of the way.
There may be areas that need to be inspected.The cabinets beneath any sinks need to be clear and accessible.As underground walls and attics will need to be thoroughly inspected, it is best to get the basement or attic as clear as possible.In attic storage areas, you will need to pull boxes into the center of the space so that structural components such as trusses and exterior wall conditions can be assessed.
Step 16: Have utilities turned on.
A home inspector won't flip electrical breakers, ignite a pilot light, or turn on the water.Before the inspector arrives, make sure everything is turned on and working correctly.If the home has been empty for a while, it's a good idea to run the faucets and other water sources to make sure the water is flowing.
Step 17: Make sure that the inspector will be able to enter the home.
It seems obvious, but this is an important step as there are several things that may obstruct an inspector.Keys are left in lock boxes if gates are unlocked.Let the inspector know about the preferred methods of entry.You should check to see if any sheds or garages are accessible.
Step 18: Get rid of ice and snow.
If there is snow or ice on the ground, make sure it does not block the entrance to the home.In order to make sure the driveway is safe, you need to remove snow from the windows and the foundation of the building.Remove any icicles from the home or other structures on the property.
Step 19: The lights should be checked.
Though you don't want to leave all the lights on in your home, making sure lights are easy to find and have working bulbs is important.The inspector will have to determine whether the fixture is functional if the lights are broken or not.It is possible to leave lights on in crawl spaces, attics, and furnace rooms that are hard to see and have light sources with easily accessible switches.
Step 20: Don't try to hide any issues with the home.
Home inspectors will notice shoddy fixes and will indicate that you have not put enough care into the home.You should inform potential buyers of recent things you have done to the home, including repairs, replacements, or plans to do so in preparation for a sale.
Step 21: All appliances should be cleaned.
This is common sense, but it is worth double checking.Make sure the washing machines and dryers are clean.The home has an oven and a stove top.The presentation of any dirtiness in the home shows poorly on an inspector's assumptions about home upkeep.There are many low-cost, quick tidy-up tasks that can be done to improve an inspector's perspective of a home.It's a good place to start cleaning.
Step 22: Smoke detectors should be tested in the home.
This is worth being addressed prior to an inspection because it is easy to forget.Get new or additional detectors if necessary.In newer homes, there needs to be a working smoke detector in almost every room except for the bathroom and closets.Older homes built before the year 2000 don't have to have a smoke detector in every room, just one on each floor.There is a carbon monoxide detector on every floor.The best place to put the detector is near the bedrooms.
Step 23: Work on the exterior caulk jobs.
caulk can be seen on the exterior of the building.This will be caulk all over the place, not just the windows.Check around doors, connections to exterior appliances, trim, and portions of the home that extend out of a previous level and have a seam on the roof.It's a good idea to touch up the mortar on the foundation of a brick home.
Step 24: You can attend the home's air system.
If the home has an heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, you should replace the air filters.Clean the air returns, vents, and other parts of the system.There are service tags or notes that are visible.
Step 25: It's a good idea to keep the exterior of the home free of debris.
At the start of a home's siding, keep mulch or other yard material at least six inches.Remove any plants that are near the home's foundation, roof, siding, or chimney.Remove any debris from the roof and the gutter.No firewood is stacked against the exterior of the home if you keep stacks of firewood.Garbage cans can attract pests and cause cracks in the siding so don't put them next to the house.Make sure the drain is pointed away from the home.Check the areas where the outside drain connects to the inside of the house.They may be hidden from view.