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Preparing for Home Inspection
Dated: April 6 2022
Views: 76
When it comes to getting your home ready for an inspection, first impressions matter. Making sure that both inside and outside your home is clean and accessible. In fact, your inspection is so important to maximizing the value of your sale, many sellers will opt to get a pre-inspection to ensure the home is ready for buyers before they even walk through the door.
Getting your home inspected or pre-inspected is an excellent way to build trust and show transparency to interested parties. It also instills a sense of confidence when people are considering where to invest their time and money when searching for their perfect home.
Making pre-inspection a priority as part of your selling strategy will save money and reduce expenses due to unexpected repairs or issues a buyer may encounter during their own inspection. It will also save time and give you the peace of mind to stand firm on the value of your home during negotiations.
Your diligence and attention to detail when preparing for your home inspection will result in a more effective and cost-efficient experience for you and your inspector.
CLEAN & DE-CLUTTER
Make sure that both inside and outside are clean and free of unnecessary items that may hinder the inspection of critical areas throughout your home. Clear debris behind appliances, around fuse boxes, crawlspaces, exposed structures, attic spaces and garages or sheds. Consider getting the HVAC system, roof, or carpets cleaned prior to your inspection. Make sure that your pets are not home during your inspection.
TEST & REPAIR
Test appliances, light switches, ceiling fans, plumbing, garage door openers, power outlets, HVAC, alarm systems, sprinkler or irrigation systems, installed smart home devices, smoke detectors, and gas lines for any issues. Make sure that anything that can’t be repaired with a little paint is repaired by a professional. Any major repairs like flooring, roofing, or painting that hasn’t been serviced in a while should also be included in your preparations. Replace caulking or grout on tiled areas, toilets, sinks, and bathtubs.
STRUCTURES & EXTERIORS
Your inspector will get in all the small and precarious places around your home so make sure they’re easily accessible. Make sure that you take care of any water damage, rodent or insect problems, clean & clear the chimney, and trim any invasive trees or bushes that block access to vents or entries. Expect your gutters, faucets, A/C units, windows/screens, to be closely inspected and need to be open and clean of debris and disrepair.
Using a checklist can help ensure you double-check all the important areas and take all the necessary steps to get the most out of your pre-sale inspection. Take it from me, making sure you’re prepared and organized will pave the way for a successful and transparent selling experience for everyone involved.
Madeleine Rose
With over 30 years of experience in representing buyers and sellers throughout the Metropolitan Portland area, I base my practice as a certified negotiator in confidential representation of clients fr....
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