How to prepare a House for a Home Inspection

As a realtor are you asked by sellers how do we prepare for a home inspection?

There are some fundamentals that a seller should address to promote a smoothe inspection. Most of them are maintenance items and usually require more elbow grease than money. Included are items that get put on the back burner and never get addressed. Without exception a homeowner should never try a quicky inexenspive repair of an item. Home inspectors will find these items quickly this can make an inspector suspicious and more critical. If there are items that require professional repair and the home owner is not qualified and not willing to have item professionally addressed it is best to leave the item alone.

Exterior


Provide a minimum 6 inch clearance between grade and siding.

Clean debris from gutters and roof, make sure drains are clear of debris especially basement drains.

Yard should slope away from the home.

Trees, roots, bushes and shrubs should be trimmed away from siding, roofs, chimneys and foundation.

All weathered trim and siding should be sanded painted and caulked where necessary.

Fire wood (and any other exposed wood) should be moved so as not to be in contact with the home.

Faulty mortar joins should be tuck pointed.

The home HVAC system should have filters replaced and possibly professionally cleaned. If the system is cleaned keep documentaion readily available.

Doors and windows need to be in good working order. If there are broken or cracked window panes replace them. All double pane window seals will dry out it is only a matter of time. Windows installed in the early 1980s are begining to dry out now. Broken panes will just emphasize this issue.


As you know the best time to address an objection is before it is made. If your sellers' homes show and inspect well you and your clients have covered a most treaturous portion of the sales journey.

Next newsletter we look at the interior list.



For Information or to schedule inspections call
970-686-5791 or 720-301-0769

Front Range Inspection are Certified Home Inspectors with membership in national and local organizations including but not limited to NACHI, RMNAHI & Home Inspection Foundation