6 Things Homeowners Should Do to Prepare for Their Home Inspection
Preparing for Your Home Inspection Makes it Easier for You and Your Inspector
Preparing your home in advance allows the homeowner to ensure that there are no surprises or inconveniences on the big day.
The following are essential tips on how and why you should prepare for a home inspection:
- Make Sure the House is Clean
This might sound like a simple task, but there are homeowners who tend to overlook it. A clean property is validation to the inspector and others viewing your home that you take proper care of the house and helps to create a good impression. While a trained inspector won’t let their first reaction guide their inspection, it’s best for all parties to work together without the clutter. - Be Punctual
Whether running to a Doctor appointment in between work hours or soccer practice in the evening it gets tough to keep all the balls in the air. Trust me; we understand how much time it takes to run a household which is why it is important for the Home inspector to be on time for you. Home inspectors also have many appointments throughout the day, and often try to arrive early to the homes they are to inspect. If a homeowner isn’t home or isn’t prepared for the inspector at the scheduled time it will cause the inspector to be tardy for other homeowners; being mindful of the time will help everyone’s day run smoothly. - Make Sure the Utilities Stay Connected
The home inspector will have to run the dishwasher, turn on the stove, test the furnace, and switch on the air conditioning to see if they are all in working order so make sure you leave all utilities connected, particularly if the house is vacant. It would be a major inconvenience to have to schedule a further inspection because one or all of the utilities are shut off. - Provide Workspace Near the Furnace, Air Conditioner and Water Heater
You should remove any furniture and other large items that might block easy access to your air conditioner, furnace, and water heater. The inspector will require at least 3 to 4 feet of working space to properly inspect these items. In most cases, they will not move any obstacles denying them access, which will result in further delays. - Leave the Keys for Electrical Boxes and Outbuildings
When you have a detached garage or an exterior building, make sure you have left the remote control and keys for the inspector. In addition, unlock the sprinkler system cover and all electrical boxes. Providing easy access to all these items will make the inspection go quickly and free of preventable issues. - Leave a Note
In most cases, leaving a note is not necessary. However, if some aspect of your property is damaged or broken and you are in the process of fixing the issue, it can be helpful to leave a note for both the inspector and for your potential buyers who may accompany the inspector. When leaving a note, it shows that you are not attempting to hide anything and also lets the interested parties know that you are aware of, and are intending to fix an issue.
Trained & Certified Northern California Home Inspectors
HomeGuard Incorporated is a reputable Northern California home inspection company that provides termite inspection, home inspection, roof inspection, and Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) reports. We perform over 50,000 inspections each year and we offer fast, quality, detailed inspections with color photos. Contact us by phone at (855) 331-1900 or order an inspection online today!
