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How To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Homerochesterrealestateblog.com/prepare-for-a-home-inspection-selling-home/

Tips To Prepare For A Home Inspection In Real Estate

How To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home

One of the most important steps in a real estate transaction is the inspection period. There are many real estatetransactions that don’t make it past the home inspection period.

Findings from the home inspection is one of the most common reasons why home buyers get scared when buying a1/8

home. Some buyers are scared by the smallest deficiencies in a home while others are not. Also the interactionbetween an inspector and buyer as well as the buyer and their agent can make or break a transaction when issuesare discovered during an inspection.

Many of the things that scare away a buyer are things that could be avoided if you prepare for a home inspectionproperly. Working as a Webster NY real estate agent, I always mention to my sellers that it’s better to be proactivewhen selling a home since it can eliminate issues in the future.

Below you will find out some of the best tips to help prepare for a home inspection when selling a home . Byfollowing the tips below, you greatly improve the chances that you don’t have any issues because of the homeinspection period. This means that your home sale should be successful and relatively stress free.

Why The Home Inspection Is Important

There are tons of reasons why having a home inspection is suggested when buying a home. Whether your sellingyour home to a first time home buyer or a buyer who is purchasing their tenth home, it is a huge life event. Mosthome buyers are seeking peace of mind when buying a home. One of the most important reasons why homeinspections are important is because it improves peace of mind for a buyer.

Home inspections are important in real estate also because they are a relatively cheap way to help forecast futurecosts. A home inspection is almost a blueprint to help a home buyer predict what future expenses they will have.

For example, one of the most common home inspection findings is the actual age and condition of a homes heatingand cooling systems. A buyer can learn that the furnace in a home is 20 years old which can help them understandthey should be budgeting for a new furnace in the near future since the typical life expectancy of a furnace is 20-25years.

The home inspection is a critical part of a real estate transaction for a number of reasons, including the twodiscussed above. When selling your home, you need to take the inspection period very seriously. Now that youunderstand why the home inspection is important, continue reading to find out why it’s important to prepare for ahome inspection and also some of the best tips for doing so.

Why It’s Important To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home

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Is It Important To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home

Since the inspection period is a common culprit as to why real estate deals fall apart, you need to realize why it’simportant to prepare for a home inspection when selling your home.

Some sellers will actually elect to have a pre-listing inspection when selling their home. The biggest benefit of apre-listing home inspection is that it provides an opportunity to correct deficiencies before a buyer completes theirinspection. Sellers who have a pre-listing inspection clearly understand why it’s important to prepare for a homeinspection.

Another very important reason why it’s important to prepare for a home inspection when selling a home is the factthat many issues that are discovered during a buyers inspection can be avoided. Many issues that are discoveredduring a home inspection are quick and inexpensive fixes.

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Guide To Help You Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home

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Exclusive Guide On How To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home

As you can see, home inspections are an important step in a real estate transaction. When selling your home youneed to realize it’s important to prepare for a home inspection and also how to do so. Below are some of the mostcommon areas you need to check in your home and things to complete in order to properly prepare for a homeinspection.

Check Your Lighting

As you prepare for a home inspection, one area of your home you need to check is your lighting. Home inspectorswill be checking the light fixtures throughout your home so a simple walk around your home to test your fixturesshould be easy. If your light fixtures are not working it could be a simple fix such as replacing a light bulb.

Inspect Your Homes Mechanics

One very important aspect of a home that buyers are looking at while viewing homes are the main mechanics, suchas the homes roof, furnace, water heater, and air conditioning. As you prepare for a home inspection you shouldhave your homes main mechanics inspected.

It’s highly recommended that before you list a home for sale that you have the HVAC cleaned and inspected by alicensed contractor. Providing a home buyer a receipt indicating that the HVAC system has been cleaned andinspected and that it’s in working order is a great way to eliminate a potential problem after the inspection. It’s alsoa good idea to install a new furnace filter as you prepare for a home inspection.

One of the most costly home repairs is a roof replacement. It’s critical that while you prepare for a home inspectionthat you inspect your roof or hire a roofing contractor to do so. If you have an older roof, understanding how to knowif you need a new roof is very important. The replacement cost of a roof alone is enough to scare away manypotential buyers.

Other mechanics that you should have inspected as you prepare for a home inspection include;

Hot water heater

Central air conditioning unit

Electrical panel and wiring

Check The Exterior

The exterior of your home is just as important to properly prepare for a home inspection. There are a few tasks thatyou should complete prior to an inspection.

One important task to complete prior to an inspection is the cleaning of your homes gutters. Clogged gutters can be

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very problematic since they can create issues with channeling water away from your home. While you’re cleaningthe gutters on your home, you also need to check your downspouts. Downspouts play a big role in channeling wateraway from your home.

This is only one example of an exterior task that you should complete as you prepare for a home inspection. Someother important tasks include;

Inspect the grading around the foundation of your home

Inspect the siding and/or exterior paint condition

Inspect the fascia and soffits

Inspect the condition of your driveway

Trim trees, bushes, and shrubs away to ensure they’re not touching your home or roof

Check your doorbell to ensure it’s functioning properly

Check your garage door opener to ensure it’s functioning properly

Check Your Windows

The condition of a homes windows are important to many buyers. As you prepare for a home inspection, you shouldcheck your windows, both inside and outside. Make sure that your windows are functioning properly and that theyopen, close, and lock properly.

Recently while selling a home in Rochester NY, the homes windows were painted shut. As you can imagine thiscreated a problem for the buyer since they weren’t able to open the windows in the home. The seller was asked tocorrect this problem prior to the closing.

It’s also important to make sure there are not ripped screens or broken windows. Depending on the type ofmortgage a buyer is obtaining, broken windows can create issues with a bank appraisal.

For example, if the buyer is obtaining an FHA mortgage, the appraiser will likely cite in his report if there are brokenwindows. These broken windows will need to be fixed before the bank funds the money to the borrower. It’simportant to note that a broken seal in a window will likely not be required to be repaired prior to a lender approvingthe funding. A broken seal is when a window has a foggy appearance.

Check Your Plumbing

Water leaks can create major problems in a home. As you prepare for a home inspection, it’s vital to check theplumbing in your home. This can be done by simply running your homes faucets, flushing the toilets, and runningthe showers/bathtubs. As you run your homes plumbing you should check under sinks to ensure there are no waterleaks occurring.

Keep an eye on the water pressure as you’re testing your homes plumbing. While you are running the water in yourhome at the same time, the water pressure should still be strong. If the water pressure seems low, it’s possible youhave a clogged, damaged, or old galvanized main water line and you should have a licensed contractor furtherevaluate.

If your home happens to have a septic system, it’s highly recommended that you have it cleaned and inspected. There are some types of financing that require a septic inspection to be completed prior to the funds being

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approved.

Provide Clear Access For The Inspector

An area of your home that you rarely access or maybe have never accessed are crawl spaces and the attic. Qualityhome inspectors will want to have easy access to a homes crawl space, knee walls, or attics. As you prepare for ahome inspection, it’s important that you provide a clear access to these areas. This may mean that you need toclean out a closet where the scuttle access is or make sure pull down attic stairs are functioning properly.

It’s also important to make sure there is clear access to your homes electrical panel, furnace, air conditioning unit,and water main. By not providing easy access to these areas, it’s possible a buyer believes you’re attempting tohide issues within your home.

Check Your Detectors

While you prepare for a home inspection you should be checking your homes detectors. This includes your smokedetectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Depending on where you’re selling a home, you maybe required to havea certain number and location of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In New York State, every home is requiredto have at least one smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

There are other detectors that your home may also have that you should check while you prepare for a homeinspection. If you have smart home technology products, such as a water leak detector, you should ensure that isalso functioning properly.

Check Your Utilities

If you’re selling a vacant home and have turned off your utilities, you need to check them as you prepare for a homeinspection. Since a home inspector is going to be testing a homes plumbing, electric, heating and cooling, andother utilities, it’s critical that they are on but also working properly.

Check Your Appliances

If appliances are included in the sale of your home, you need to check them prior to the home inspection. A qualityhome inspector is going to test the oven, washer, dryer, and other included appliances. An exception to this is if theappliances are being sold in as-is condition.

One of the most common issues that is cited during home inspections is the type of venting a dryer has. Manyhomes still are using plastic venting rather than metal which is now code. This can be cited as a potential firehazard but can be fixed cheaply.

Are you prepare for a home inspection, make sure that your appliances are cleaned and emptied. For example, ifyour washer and dryer are included, make sure there are no clothes in either since they will be tested. The samecan be said for the oven and dishwasher.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to prepare for a home inspection cannot be overlooked. Since the inspection period can be one of thebiggest hurdles in a real estate transaction to overcome, preparing properly is vital.

As mentioned above, it’s highly recommended when selling your home that you consider a pre-listing home

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inspection. Correcting problems discovered in a pre-listing home inspection is a great way to improve the chancesthe transaction doesn’t fall apart because of a poor inspection.

Other Home Inspection Resources

Making The Most Out Of A Bad Inspection via Teresa Cowart

What’s The Difference Between An Appraisal And A Home Inspection ?

Should Sellers Get An Inspection Before Listing via Selling Warner Robins

Are you selling a home in the Rochester area and wondering how you should prepare for a home inspection? If so,the above information should be extremely helpful in preparing you for your homes inspection. If you have yet to listyour Rochester NY home for sale and you’re still looking for a top Rochester Realtor®, contact me. I’d love to sharewith you how I provide maximum exposure for Rochester NY homes that are for sale.

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About the authors: The above article “How To Prepare For A Home Inspection When Selling A Home” wasprovided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock). With over 30 years combined experience, if you’rethinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise.

We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton,Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush,Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.

© 2016, Kyle Hiscock. All rights reserved.

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