For Sellers we offer a preview of what inspectors hired by potential buyers will find when they inspect your home.

     Listing or pre-sale inspections help to minimize surprises, the primary source of transaction failure.  Accurate disclosure regarding the condition of your property allows potential buyers to make more informed decisions, resulting in realistic offers.  This helps the transaction run smoothly and increases the chance of a successful close of escrow.  Properties with fewer unanswered questions often sell faster.  Surprises arising after the buyer makes an offer often lead to delays and added negotiation.

     Remember that almost all homes have defects.  Knowing these in advance enables you to obtain reasonable repair estimates from appropriate trade professionals and provide that information to the prospective buyers, or enable you to have some of these conditions corrected prior to listing the property for sale.  Defect disclosure accompanied by cost to correct estimates by reputable trade professionals will often answer questions and defuse problems before they develop.  The unknown is always more threatening and risky than a known condition or expense. 

Preparing your home for an inspection:

     Before the inspection, make sure that the inspector has access to the following:

    Electrical panels – Heating equipment – Water Heaters – Main water shut off – Under floor crawl space – Attic access (remove clothes and other items that impede access) – Garage attic openings (remove items that impede access) – Under sink areas – Ground fault protected electrical outlets (remove or move appliances or other items that block access in garages, basements, workshops, etc.) – Kitchen sinks (sinks should be empty) – Fireplaces (remove plants, decorative items, etc. from in front of fireplaces and wood stoves) – Interior areas, garages, basements and yards (kennel, cage or otherwise remove pets that cannot be let out or that may harm the inspector or that may be harmed by the inspection – Locked items or areas (remove locks, unlock doors, or provide keys so that the inspector can open electrical main panels, subpanels, storerooms, etc.)

     In addition, on the inspection day ensure that all heating systems and water heaters are operational.  Pilot lights should always be lit.  If pilot lights and/or valves are off, the assumption will be that the appliances they serve are inoperable.  Finally, relax, you’ve done all that you can do to make sure your home is shown to its best advantage.

     There are additional things that you can do to prepare your home for the inspector’s visit that will make the process easier for the inspector and, as a result, less time consuming and disruptive for you.

     Before the inspection, you should check the following: