Health & Fitness
Preparing Your Home For A Home Inspection
Cliff Keith is a California real estate Broker, who has helped home buyers and sellers since 1976! Cliff raised his family, and served on several Redwood City commissions and committees. U.S. Veteran.
If you, as the seller, have arranged to have your home inspected, you should plan to go along with the inspector during the entire process.
If it is a buyer-initiated inspection, it would be preferable if you were not present. Being notified beforehand is important for any inspection. The real estate agent generally will schedule the inspection for a time convenient to both you and the buyer to allow you enough time to make preparations.
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Whether you, as the seller or the buyer, have arranged the home inspection, you can take several preparatory steps, which will benefit you and help the inspection process:
Make sure the inspector can get access to all areas of the house.
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Clear all furniture, boxes, clothes, toys and other personal items that may block access to the furnace, water heater, electrical panels, attic crawl spaces, etc. Inspectors will not enter inaccessible areas.
If access to your attic crawl space is in a closet, remove clothing, shoes, and other items. Not only might they be in the way, but when opening the hatch door, debris (dust, insulation, loose plaster) is likely to fall from the ceiling upon items left in the closet.
If you are expecting a visit from an inspector and prospective buyer:
• Ensure that filters are clear in air conditioners, heaters, vents, drains, etc.
• Clearing areas under sinks makes for a thorough inspection.
• Have the house cleaned thoroughly.
The fewer problems an inspector finds with the property, the better overall image the property presents to the prospective buyer. Obviously, it is to your advantage if the buyer hears the inspector saying, “Everything on this property is right except for a couple little issues here and there,” and not hearing a long list of concerns.
Additional notes to home sellers
The home inspector may override your timers or reset clocks (such as appliance clocks, outdoor lighting, etc.). You should check them after the inspection to make sure they are reset properly.
Remember to allow two to three hours for the home inspection.
Christopher Lopez is the Franchise Owner of AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service for San Francisco and the Greater Peninsula. AmeriSpec is North America's leading Home Inspection Service (a subsidiary of American Home Shield). Celebrating 25 years of service and over two million quality inspections performed. For more information, call 650-369-8800 or visit www.amerispec.net/westcity or www.amerispec.com , http://www.amerispecwestcity.blogspot.com/
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