In preparation for an upcoming inspection, there are numerous things that both the home buyer and seller should be aware of. When one or both of the parties are not prepared for the home inspection, unnecessary difficulties can arise. In this article, I will be helping ease the transition into the home inspection for your inspector, you, and the seller.

Preparing For the Home Inspection

Once your home inspection is scheduled I recommend providing your inspector with your agent’s email address and phone number so they can be included in the upcoming scheduling emails. This will help to coordinate the needed preparations for all parties involved, including the seller and their agent.

Access to the following things should be confirmed prior to the inspector’s arrival:

• Any gate codes or combo locks needed for the home (We have access to Supra Key)

• Confirm that all utilities are on (Gas, Electricity, Water)

• All gas-fired Water heaters and Furnaces should be lit and operational

• Access to all of the home’s mechanical equipment (Electrical panel, Water heater, HVAC system) is provided. If any electric panels are locked, the locks should be removed. If storage is blocking access to equipment it should be arranged to accommodate the inspection

• Keys to all the home’s locked doors, garages, attics, pool house, and side gates should be provided

• The home security system should be deactivated for the duration of the inspection

• Pets should be crated or removed. This is not only for physical safety, but so as not to be accidentally let out of the house!

• Considerations for the Home Buyer

We recommend attending the full duration of the home inspection. This will maximize your time with the home so you can gather any spatial measurements for appliances and furniture, or just re-evaluate your potential purchase.

In the event that you can only spare a limited amount of time on the day of the inspection, we recommend arranging with the inspector a block of time at the close of the inspection. The summary review at the end of the inspection will help to process the findings by your inspector, as well as get an in-depth assessment of the condition of the home to help you assess the overall risk to purchase.

If you cannot be present at the inspection, the best way to proceed is to wait for the finished inspection report. Once reviewed, a phone call to your inspector centered on the most worrisome items can help elaborate and expand for your benefit. For your convenience, we try to prioritize the observed defects within the report, but only you can fully determine what is the most pressing and cost effective method for negotiations.

Considerations for the Home Seller

On the vast majority of home inspections, the home buyer will choose to accompany the inspector. This will afford them the opportunity to view the home prior to closing and help to understand any notable defects that the inspector may uncover. If the home is occupied during the inspection the seller and their agent should make a concentrated effort to keep the home in a highly presentable manner. A poorly maintained home can leave a negative impression on the home buyer, which can be further exacerbated by any notable defects found within the home. The following items should be considered prior to the home inspection:

• Containing food items, laundry, and personal effects to a minimum

• Replace light bulbs to ensure the fixture is working and help with lighting

• Maintain the landscaping so as to provide visual access to foundation and outdoor equipment

• Remove trash and landscaping items from the pathways around the home