Things You Need To Know About Your Home Inspection

If you’re getting ready to sell your home there are a ton of things to consider. One item that is sometimes overlooked is the home will probably need to be prepared for a home inspection.  There are things that you should do to help the home inspection go smoothly.

Rick Strand is a veteran Certified Master Inspector with Strand Home Inspections. Rick has done hundreds of inspections in the Calgary area, and has come up with some things to help sell your home faster by preparing ahead of time. Your inspection will go much smoother, and buyers will have fewer concerns about waiving their home inspection condition:

• Confirm that the water, electrical and gas services are turned on (including pilot lights).
• Make sure your pets won’t hinder the home inspection process. Ideally, they should be removed from the premises.

• Unlock any areas that the home inspector needs to access such as exterior gates, interior doors, attic/crawl space hatches etc.

• Remove items blocking access to furnace/water heater, electrical panel, crawlspace and below attic access hatch. Keep interior and exterior stored items away from the exterior walls.

• Ensure all roof drainage/downspouts terminate 6′ away from the house and onto grading sloped away from the house.

• Run all plumbing fixtures and have a look below for leaks.

• Inspect the garage vehicle door & electric opener.  

• Check all interior/exterior lights for burned out bulbs to avoid a “light not functional” comment in the Calgary home inspection report that may suggest an electrical problem.

• Repair/replace any broken or missing items such as electrical switch/receptacle cover plates, door knobs, locks, latches, screens, weather-stripping etc.

• Replace dirty furnace filter & clean/replace humidifier evaporator pad.

• Test all electrical GFCI and AFCI devices with their respective ‘test’ buttons.

• Ensure all interior/exterior guards & hand rails are present and correctly installed wherever walking surfaces are elevated more than 24″, or where more than 3 steps are present.

• Test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors.

• Prune trees & any other vegetation so that nothing touches the exterior walls or roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking the time to address these items is a wise investment when you’re selling your home. The buyers home inspector WILL be inspecting these items/areas, and any observed deficiencies will be included in the home inspection report to potential home buyers.

If you’re looking for information on selling your home, or if you’re looking to buy a new home, call me today…I can help!