So, you’ve decided to sell your California home, and the time to inspect it has come. What do inspectors look for, and what can you do to prepare for a home inspection? For starters, the inspector will focus mainly on the walls, foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical, etc. You can make several changes to ensure that you pass the inspection fast and with flying colors. Here are some tips and tricks to help your home impress the inspector and make sure your home is up to par.
The First Step When You Prepare for a Home Inspection is to Clean
The easiest and most important thing to do when preparing for a home inspection is to clean the inside of your home. You’ll feel much better knowing that your home looks its best when it’s being checked out. Do everyday cleaning tasks first, such as taking the trash out and taking care of laundry; after that, move on to cleaning the dishes and countertops in the kitchen, the stove, and the fridge. Having a spotless home isn’t crucial to the inspection, but you can never go wrong with leaving a good first impression. The home inspector will also have a much easier time going through your home if they don’t have to deal with dirt and clutter.
Prepare for a Home Inspection by doing Repairs
Fixing minor issues and ensuring everything works well are easy tasks that will make a difference during a home inspection. As Royal Moving Company mentions, it’s easy to get stressed while moving and getting your home inspected, but there are ways to make it easier. Doing repairs means you will have peace, knowing you did everything possible to make your home pass the inspection. Start with light bulbs and light switches. Check to see if they all work, and replace any light bulbs that may not. Next up, repairs in the bathroom. This includes fixing the toilet, leaky faucets, and clogged drains. These can all be fixed without hiring a maintenance specialist.
Another essential fix you can do is to repair any water damage that might’ve happened in the past. Hinges can get loose after time, so tighten them if needed on the doors and cabinets. Replace batteries in smoke detectors and buy a fire extinguisher if you don’t have one. Check to see if smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly. Lastly, call an exterminator if there are any rodents or bugs on the premises. These are all critical safety measures that will help your inspection go smoothly.
Clean the Exterior
After finishing the repairs and cleaning the inside of your house, continue onto the roof. It would be best if you replaced any broken roof tiles. Remove any moss on the roof and clean the gutters of leaves and branches. Check whether the chimney needs fixing or cleaning as well. Clean the area next to the home so it can be visible and easily accessed. If you have a fence, make sure it isn’t damaged. You can move the lawn, take care of overgrown weeds, and trim the bushes. Get rid of any unnecessary clutter you might have in your yard.
Move Out of Your Home
Selling and inspecting your home will be much easier once you’ve transported your belongings to your new home or a storage unit. You can even work with your realtor to stage it to attract potential buyers. Moving things out of your old and into your new home is challenging; thankfully, you can hire moving services and rely on experts for this to keep your items secure and have them arrive on schedule. Once your home is sold, you’ll be able to hand over the keys to the new owners quickly. The home inspection will go by much faster when there aren’t things that can potentially block access to areas that need to be checked out.
Provide Documents and Access to all Areas of the Home
Gather all documents about the home you might have for the inspector to see. Leave all the keys necessary to access all home areas so that the inspector can see them easily, including the attic, basement, garage, etc. Make clear pathways throughout the home so the inspector can go from one area to another without any trouble. Clear out cabinets that will need to be opened, such as the counter under the sinks. Turn on all utilities as well. Leave some extra space around the air conditioner, the furnace, the water heater, and other vital areas. Remove items blocking the windows, doors, fuse boxes, and other places the inspector must check. Label the fuse box and remove any incorrect labels
What Should You not do?
Never try to hide something you aren’t sure will do well on the inspection. It’s best to stay honest and work through any problems rather than risk not passing the inspection. After all, these things can easily be spotted by professionals. Never leave behind any issues that you can easily fix. Last but not least, don’t be late and don’t forget any necessary paperwork. This will all help you pass the inspection faster.
Final Preparations Before the Inspection
If you have pets, it’s best to find them a temporary place to stay while the home is being inspected. Removing your pets from the premises will make them and the inspector feel comfortable on the day of the home inspection. Have everything ready a couple of hours before the scheduled time. Double check the keys you left and if there are any missing. Walk through your home to check the cleanliness and accessibility one last time. Furthermore, air out the rooms and let the sunlight in
In Summary
Selling your California home and moving into a new one isn’t easy, and having to prepare for a home inspection can add a new level of stress. However, if you followed these steps and did your best to keep your home safe and up to code, there isn’t anything to worry about. Just do what you can to relax and trust that the inspection will go smoothly.
