5 Steps To Prepare Your House For A Home Inspection
Before someone buys any Lake of the Ozarks real estate, it needs to be inspected by a professional. Getting a home inspection done doesn't have to be a scary thing if you know how to prepare. There are a few, simple things that you can do to make sure that your house is given the best review possible. If you have kept up with regular maintenance of the home, then most of these things will already be taken care of. Some sellers will have their own inspection done before the buyer's inspection. This is helpful in letting them know if any possible repairs have been overlooked, and these can be taken care of ahead of time. An inspection is helpful to the buyer because it gives them a good idea of what they will be getting into if they buy the house.
Here are a few key things for you to do before a home inspection.
1. Make all areas easily accessible, both inside and out.
The inspector will need to have easy access to everything in the home to make sure that it is in good, working condition. If they cannot see or use it, they will mark the report as incomplete. This could delay your results and the home sale.Outside:
Make sure all landscaping is at least 4-6 inches from the side of the house. This includes shrubs, firewood, mulch, etc... Inspectors will need to be able to clearly see and reach electrical panels, heating and cooling equipment, and under-building crawl spaces.
Inside:
Keep all clutter picked up and out of sight. An inspector will need to be able to easily get to attic spaces, under-sink areas, kitchen sinks, fireplaces, etc... Every room will need to be kept unlocked or a key provided.
2. Fix the little things, too.
You obviously need to take care of any big problems to ensure that your real estate sells for the best price possible, but don't forget about the little things too. Something as small as a broken cabinet door handle can give an inspector a negative impression. Replace items like air filters with brand new ones. As mentioned above, routine maintenance will take care of much of this preparation. It is perfectly acceptable to leave a note or tell the inspector of 1 or 2 things that you will be fixing, and when and how it will be done.
3. Replace burnt out light bulbs.
They will want to see everything, and if a room is too dark to inspect, they cannot finish their job and it may look as if you are trying to hide something. Even if it is a naturally-lit room, if the light doesn't come on with the switch, the inspector may assume that it is broken.
4. Empty dishwashers and washing machines.
Inspectors will be turning on everything in the house to make sure that it is capable of running properly. Even if the appliances do not come with the home, the inspector will need to know that the plumbing, venting, and electrical supplies are all in working order. Leave instructions for anything that is difficult to work or use so that they can fully check it out. You do not want them to mark it as not working at all.
5. Clean everything.
Piles of clutter and counters covered in crumbs make the house look less appealing and affect your score. Give everything a once over, or hire a professional cleaning company to take care of everything. Then all you have to do is keep it tidied up until the house sells.
On the day of your inspection, make sure that pets are not running loose and all utilities are turned on. A good realtor at the Lake of the Ozarks knows exactly what an inspector will be looking for and will be able to help you spot any obvious possible problems. If you have any questions at all, I would be happy to answer them.
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