Once you’ve found your buyer, then you need to sell your property to the inspector. Following are tips to avoid common issues that arise during an inspection.
Inspection tips
- Confirm water, electrical and gas services are turned on (including pilot lights).
- Make sure your pets won’t hinder your home inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from the premises or secured outside.
- Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electrical service panels, water heater, attic and crawlspace.
- Replace burned-out light bulbs which 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.
- Unlock any locked areas that your home inspector must access, such as the attic door or hatch, the electrical service panel, the door to the basement, and any exterior gates.
- Trim tree limbs so that they’re at least 10 feet away from the roof. Trim any shrubs that are too close to the house and can hide pests or hold moisture against the exterior
- Repair or replace any broken or missing items, such as doorknobs, locks or latches, windowpanes or screens, gutters or downspouts, or chimney caps.
- Fix any dripping faucets, clogged drains or plumbing leaks.
- Paint any exterior surfaces that are blistering or peeling, replace any rotted siding, trim, fascia.
- Ensure all downspouts are installed and lead water away from the homes foundation.
Consider offering a home warranty for your buyer. For a small investment, $399 for a gold plan, Blue Ribbon Home Warranty will provide you with a pre-inspection, allowing you to address items that could be a deal breaker before a buyer has their own inspection, provides the Seller with 9 months of coverage, and provides your buyer with a 14 month warranty from the time of closing.