Ten Tips to Speed Up Your Home
Inspection
Sellers can speed
their home inspection by following
these suggestions. The inspection
will go smoother, with fewer
concerns to delay closing.
- Confirm that
water, electric and gas service are
on, with gas pilot lights burning.
- Ensure pets won't
hinder the inspection. Ideally, they
should be removed from premises or
secured outside. Tell your agent
about any pets at home.
- Replace burned
out bulbs to avoid a "Light is
inoperable" report that may suggest
an electrical problem.
- Test smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors, and
replace dead batteries.
- Clean or replace
dirty HVAC air filters. They should
fit securely.
- Remove stored
items, debris and wood from
foundation. These may be cited as
"conducive conditions" for termites.
- Remove items
blocking access to HVAC equipment,
electric service panels, water
heaters, attics and crawl spaces.
- Unlock areas the
inspector must access - attic doors
or hatches, electric service panels,
closets, fence gates and crawl
spaces.
- Trim tree limbs
to 10' from the roof and shrubs from
the house to allow access.
- Attend to broken
or missing items like doorknobs,
locks and latches; windowpanes,
screens and locks; gutters,
downspouts and chimney caps.
Checking these areas
before your home inspection is an
investment in selling your property.
Your real estate agent will thank you!
