There are lots of reasons to get a home inspected. Depending on your situation, you could be selling a house or looking for new insurance. If you’re going to have an inspector come look at your home, it better be in tip-top form. An inspection’s outcome can be affected by even the tiniest of factors. It is the job of inspectors to identify any problems at the earliest possible time. Fixing the following issues before an inspector arrives at your house may be easier if you divide your home into the following areas.
Preparing Your Home for Inspection
It’s easy to decide to put your house up for sale. However, getting your home ready for an inspection is the most difficult element of the process. Take a look at the following items.
Exterior
Among the exterior features of your home are the roof, siding, windows, and foundation. There should be a thorough inspection of outside doors and windows to seal them properly. It’s important to fix any missing or broken siding and any portions of the roof or walkway that have been damaged. Make sure your chimney is adequately vented if you own one. The lawn has to be manicured and mowed as well. Finally, mulch or gravel should be shifted away from the foundation’s base.
Interior
Appliances that need electricity, such as lights and plugs, should work properly in your house. Access to the main electrical panel should be simple. Everything in the plumbing system should work as well as it did in the first place. Cleaning and decluttering the house is usually a good idea. However, while a clean house is not the goal of home inspections, it does help if the inspector doesn’t have to move anything when inspecting various fixtures.
Cracks in the walls and ceilings should be patched up before a home inspection. In some circumstances, painting the walls in high-traffic areas may be advantageous to eliminate fingerprints or other stains from the surface. The state of the floor should always be visible by sweeping and mopping the flooring.
Crawlspace/Basement/Attic
A complete examination of the attic, basement, and crawlspace for each house inspection is carried out. Ensure that any external vents are free of debris and provide sufficient ventilation. Properly fitted insulation should be placed away from air vents. Before the inspection, basements and crawl spaces should be dry and any leaks addressed. Electrical wiring must be in good operating order and securely fastened.
HVAC System
Ensure that your home’s heating and air-conditioning systems are working properly before leaving for your vacation. Change or clean filters and vents according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The ducts should also be cleaned if possible. During the inspection, thermostats should be operable and accessible. Turning on the heater and the air conditioner is usually a requirement for an inspector. Provide the inspector with a copy of the invoice if your HVAC system has recently been renovated or serviced.
There aren’t many home inspections done. You may be able to learn from them, though, about the things that need to be mended in your house and when they should be done. It also offers you an indication of the value of your home and the quality of its construction. So before you call an inspector, go through your house and remedy anything that might detract from its overall worth. Doing so will make your home more appealing to potential buyers, which is in your best interest.
