So, You’re Selling Your Home…
Selling your beautiful home comes with a host of chores, tasks and steps that all go towards getting it ready to move. Most of the things you do are geared towards making your home appealing to a buyer, but what about after you’ve got that offer?
A home inspection in Wichita isn’t something many potential buyers skip. They like to have all the information they can get their hands on before signing on the dotted line. And rightfully so, it’s a major investment.
Once you’ve got an interested buyer, they will want to have a home inspector take a look at your property. What should you do to sure that the process goes smoothly? In this guide, we’ll discuss eight of our top tips for sellers before home inspections. A home inspection isn’t something many potential buyers skip. Here are some tips to make the process smoother.
1. Think About Curb Appeal
We’re sure your Realtor told you how important curb appeal is. Making that first impression is huge when a buyer arrives. But a different kind of curb appeal can make your home’s inspection a breeze.
- Make sure there is 4-6 inches of clearance between the siding and any landscaping materials.
- Cut back any vegetation to ensure about a foot of clearance between it and the house.
- Visually inspect the siding and trim, if you see any damage, go ahead and have it repaired beforehand.
- Repair missing caulking and trim and fix any exposed nail heads.
- Check the operation of any exterior doors, locks and deadbolts. If you see a gap, have it filled properly.
- Remove any stored items that are kept against the side of the house.
Having the exterior of your home exposed and ready to be inspected makes things go much more efficiently. Additionally, any part the inspector cannot get to or see due to obstruction could be viewed negatively by a potential buyer.
2. Check Your Roof & Gutters
Wichita receives its fair share of rain and wind, so making sure that your roof and gutters are in good working order is a huge priority for buyers. Make sure to:
- Clean the roof of any debris with a blower or pressure washer.
- Repair any damage and replace any missing elements correctly. Temporary fixes like mastic or caulk will be noted as a defect.
- Clean the gutters thoroughly
- Ensure the downspouts and other drains are free of obstruction and are flowing properly. Also, make sure the run off isn’t pooling next to the house.
3. Get Your Interior Ready
Now that the exterior is taken care of, do a quick run through of the inside and make any necessary repairs or replacements to get it ready for inspection. This includes:
- Testing all interior doors and locks
- Checking for leaks under sinks
- Checking the hot water heater for proper operation
- Changing the filter on an HVAC system
- Inspecting all caulking, trim and seals
- Checking smoke detectors for proper operation
- Testing all fixtures, lights and fans
- Visually inspecting all drywall for cracks and nail pops.
Having the interior of the home ready to go minimizes the list of pesky defects the inspector has to note. While a light that’s out, or a crack in the drywall doesn’t seem too big, these small repairs add up and can scare a potential buyer.
4. Tidy Up As Much As You Can
- Check the exterior of your home, as well as the roof, garage, etc. to make sure that the inspector will have access to all of the systems that they must check.
- Take special care to clear away stuff from major home systems like furnaces, HVAC units, utility closets, and other such areas that the inspector must examine closely.
- While you do this, you can also look for any signs that something may be wrong with your property, and make minor repairs as necessary.
5. Be On Time
If the home inspector says they’ll be there at 9:00 am, they’ll be there at 9:00 am – so make sure you’re dressed, prepared, showered, and ready to greet them in the morning. They’re professionals, and they will be there on time – you don’t want to delay them because you weren’t prepared for their arrival.
6. Provide Access to All Areas
Home inspectors will typically examine all buildings on your property, including garages and other such outbuildings, such as “granny flats” or other detached units, so you’ll need to provide them with keys, garage door openers, or door codes for these units.
In addition, if you have a sprinkler system or other systems that have electrical panel boxes or other utility boxes, leave keys and instructions for unlocking them, to ensure that the inspector has access, and can inspect them.
7. Supply Any Relevant Documents
It’s a good idea to make paperwork regarding remodeling projects available to inspectors, in addition to documentation about major repairs and upgrades such as a new furnace, HVAC system, roof, plumbing, and so forth.
This documentation will aid the inspector when they create their report, and help give the buyer more peace of mind, as they will have a more clear idea of when each major component of the home was last inspected, repaired, or replaced.
8. Get Out of the House
The buyer will usually accompany the home inspector during the examination, and will ask them questions during the process. That means they may be uncomfortable if you’re hanging around your house, so plan to have something to do while the inspection is completed. Head to the gym and get some errands done, go see a movie, schedule a coffee date with a friend – whatever sounds good! Take any pets with you or ensure that they are secured. Stay out for at least three hours. Then, head back once the inspection is complete.
Follow These Tips to Ensure Your Home Inspection Goes Smoothly!
If you follow these tips, the home inspection process is sure to go off without a hitch. If you have other questions – or you’d like to schedule your own home inspection before buyers look at your home, feel free to contact Hoffman Home Inspections or schedule an inspection today!
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