How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Before the process of buying and selling a house can be finalized, the buyer must first make an inspection of the property. A neutral, professional inspector will take a visit to the property and run through a checklist used to determine whether the purchasers and their lending institution should consider the property a worthy investment. An inspector will evaluate both minor and major issues to produce a comprehensive evaluation of the home. Taking the time to prepare for the inspection can save you time and money later.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Check to make sure all the doors and windows in your house can be fully opened and are operational. Replace any cracked or fogged windows. Make sure your door locks are secure.

Step2

De-clutter your house. Allow the inspection process to move as swiftly as possible by cleaning your house of all the extras before an inspector arrives.

Step3

Change all the filters in your heating and air ducts. This is an easy and inexpensive way to improve your house before an inspection and give the general impression that you take care of your home.

Step4

Expose all electrical panels. An inspector will need to examine the electrical wiring within your walls as part of the evaluation.

Step5

Clear out all utility rooms or storage spaces. The inspector will have to examine every corner of your house, so make sure you've done all you can to prepare for that procedure to go smoothly. Consider renting a storage unit to keep your clutter out of the way during the inspection process.

Step6

Fix any problems you may have with plumbing. Make sure your faucets don't leak.

Step7

Run your heating and air-conditioning units prior to an inspection. Make sure they're both running smoothly and pay for any necessary repairs. It's better to solve those problems now than allow them to appear on the inspector's report.

Step8

Tell your real estate agent about the coming inspection. Make sure she's there to represent you during the process.

Step9

Stay out of the way during the inspection process. Answer questions as asked, but try to avoid interjecting yourself into the inspector's work. You don't want to give the impression that you're trying to obstruct the inspector as he does his job.

Step10

Answer all questions the inspector may have. Be truthful and complete with your answers. Don't give the inspector any reason to be suspicious of you.

Tips & Warnings

Do not try to conceal any of your home's defects during the inspection process. It's better to be honest about any problems than to try to hide them. You could jeopardize your chances of closing the deal.
Individual state laws may require you to prepare an official disclosure pertaining to any pre-existing issues you're aware of. A home inspector will be familiar with property disclosures and will be able to tell if you're fudging any information on your disclosure statement.