It’s time to sell one of your biggest family investments, but are you ready to sell? The best way to find out is to do a seller’s inspection. Here are some advantages in completing a seller’s inspection:
- It might alert the seller to any items of immediate concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.
- The seller can assist the inspector during the inspection, something normally not done during a buyer’s inspection.
- The report can help the seller realistically price the home if problems exist.
- The report can help the seller substantiate a higher asking price if problems don’t exist or have been corrected.
- A seller inspection reveals problems ahead of time, which:
- might make the home show better.
- gives the seller time to make repairs and shop for competitive contractors.
- permits the seller to attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report.
- removes over-inflated buyer-procured estimates from the negotiation table.
- The report might alert the seller to any immediate safety issues found, before agents and visitors tour the home.
- A seller inspection permits a clean home inspection report to be used as a marketing tool.
- A seller inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour re-negotiations.
- The deal is less likely to fall apart, the way they often do, when a buyer’s inspection unexpectedly reveals a last-minute problem.
The following tips below will assist in diagnosing and fixing problems before they interfere with your sale:
1. Examine your exterior
Issues with the home’s exterior are easy to miss. Problems like clogged gutters and damaged roof shingles aren’t easily visible, which is why it’s important to check on them before an inspection.
Here’s a list of things outside your home you should check beforehand:
- Chimney: Look out for cracked joints, damaged bricks, and ensure the chimney cap is in good shape.
- Roof: Check for damaged and missing shingles.
- Gutters: Clean any moss and debris, and check for rust, bending, and proper downspout position.
- Siding: Look for v signs of rot, decay, or cracking.
- Foundation: Check for significant cracks.
- Frames: Inspect window and door frames for signs of rot, decay, or cracks.
- Stucco: Ensure there are no visible cracks.
The inspector will look at the siding, trims, caulking around windows and doors, and more. Clear the area around your home of plant growth, trash cans, and anything else that might impede access.
While not necessary, it’s also good to paint the exterior of your home to help create a good first impression on your inspector.
2. Check your electrical system
Electrical issues can be a dealbreaker for homebuyers since faulty wiring can cost a lot to fix and can become hazardous if left untreated. In fact, almost 50,000 fires were caused by electrical malfunctions annually from 2015 to 2019.1
Some warning signs that could indicate larger wiring problems include:
- Hot outlets: Outlets should never be uncomfortably hot, especially if nothing is plugged into it. If this is something you notice, it’s a good idea to consult an electrician.
- Flickering or dim lights: Lights don’t require much electricity, so dimming and flickering could indicate a larger issue.
- Sparks: If sparks come from an outlet or fuse box, immediately call an electrician to avoid potential safety issues.
- Buzzing: Electric humming or buzzing sounds from outlets are often caused by frayed wires or loose prongs.
Once you deal with any of the above problems, there’s a few more things you can do to make your inspection go smoothly:
- Replace lightbulbs: Either the bulb is out or there’s something wrong with the wiring. Inspectors won’t know, so they’ll either waste time examining a fixture or they’ll note a possible defect.
- Label your fuse box: Double-check that labels are correct and that switches function correctly. Add or replace any missing or damaged labels.
- Cover exposed lightbulbs: Older homes might feature exposed lightbulbs, which are another potential fire hazard.
While it can be time consuming to check for wiring issues, it can save you from headaches and potentially lost sales if you catch problems early on.
3. Check your bathroom
You should check the following parts of your bathroom before your home inspector does:
- Adequate water flow: High or low water pressure can indicate plumbing issues that can lead to bursting pipes or other hazardous situations.
- Working drains: Make sure your shower, tub, and sinks drain properly.
- Metal sinks: Check for signs of rust.
- Toilets: If your toilet fills slowly after a flush, your inspector will note it as a defect.
- Exhaust fan: A working exhaust fan is necessary to remove excess moisture from air, preventing bacteria and mold growth.
It’s also good to clean any noticeable stains from your sinks, walls, and floors to create a better impression on your inspector.
4. Look over your kitchen
A home inspector will test all of the appliances in your kitchen to make sure they are in good working order. To avoid problems, you should check:
- Dishwasher: Make sure your dishwasher isn’t leaking, its door springs work, and it drains fully.
- Sink: Your sink’s pipes should be leak-free, waterflow should be adequate, and the area beneath your sink should be in good condition with no signs of rot or decay.
- GFCIs: Outlets within six feet of your sink are required by the NEC to have GFCI protection.2
- Refrigerator: Check for signs of leaks or water damage under your fridge.
If any of your appliances are not functioning properly, consider having them repaired or replaced before the inspection.
5. Check doors, windows, and cabinets
Test anything that you open and close. Make sure knobs are securely in place and that locks function properly.
Other things you should look for:
- Wood frames: Make sure wood frames are secure and free of rot and decay.
- Screens and windows: Any damaged screens, cracked windows, or broken double-paned glass should be fixed before your inspection.
- Door and window joints: Make sure door and window joints are caulked properly.
To go the extra mile, consider lubricating doors and windows to make them easy to open come time for inspection.
6. Check for signs of water damage
An inspector will look for signs of leaks or water damage everywhere. Check under sinks, around faucets, around the base of toilets and tubs, and under any appliances that use water, like dishwashers or refrigerators. Examine your walls, ceilings, and floors and look for signs of warping, sagging, or buckling. Don’t forget to do the same outside.
7. Observe your HVAC system
An old or non-functioning HVAC system will seriously hurt your home inspection. Here’s what you should check for:
- Rust: Make sure no rust has formed around your HVAC unit.
- Odors: Funny smells coming from your HVAC could indicate a larger problem that needs repair.
- Air filters: Make sure to replace your air filters before it’s time for inspection.
- Thermostat: Test your thermostat to ensure it’s heating and cooling efficiently.
If your HVAC needs replacing, it could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. That said, it’s better to replace it earlier rather than have a home inspector flag it, causing a buyer to bring down their offer.
8. Declutter for easy access
If inspectors can’t get to an area, they can’t inspect it, resulting in a blank field on their report and a potential red flag to buyers. To avoid this, make sure the following areas are accessible:
- Attics
- Basements
- Closets
- Furnace rooms
- Under the sink
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
As a bonus, decluttering your home helps put your inspector in a good mood since it makes it easy for them to move around and do their job.
9. Make final preparations
On the inspection day, try to make everything as easy as possible for your inspector. Best practices to follow:
- Leave your home: Try to ensure your home is empty of any people or pets.
- Prepare paperwork: Leave important home documents like warranties and receipts for repairs behind in an easy-to-locate place for your inspector.
- Clear your appliances: Remove laundry from washers and dryers, and dishes from the sink and dishwasher.
- Prepare keys: Leave keys for electrical boxes and gates in an obvious place for your inspector.
Now all you need to do is wait to see the results of your home inspection.