If you are planning to sell your home, you might think it a bid odd to consider your responsibilities when a buyer is planning to bring in a certified home inspector to evaluate your home. To maximize the potential of your home’s ability to sell as quickly as possible, you will want to invest ample time readying your home for inspection. When a quality home inspection is done properly, it will save sufficient time and energy for all parties involved.
That being said, your preparation is vital to your success at selling your home. Here are a few tips to consider from a proactive standpoint.
Thorough cleaning of the interior
It’s very important to thoroughly clean your home, both inside and outside, long before the inspection date. Actually, it would be wise to have your home as show-ready BEFORE your put your home on the market. The last thing you want is for any realtors, potential buyers or the inspectors to see a disheveled home that hasn’t been well-maintained. You will want to clean every nook and cranny of the house. The last thing you want is for any form of odor or any potentially dirty areas to scare off a potential buyer and you risk closing on your home. Further, you might want to consider hiring a professional cleaner to come in and clean the windows, hard-to-reach areas and other areas you might have challenges with yourself.
Make sure your home is ready for the inspection
Make your home ready for the inspection. The goal of the home inspection is to identify areas of concern that might require substantial repair or replacement. Your best bet is to go through your entire home and look for areas that might require repair or touch up. Be sure that every area of your home is easily accessible and free of any clutter. Ensure all the main areas like the basement, attics openings, crawl spaces and others can be easily accessed to prevent the need for a re-inspection. Being able to have a full-scale and quality inspection done right the first time will save everyone time and energy.
Fix all known problem areas
If you have any repair work that should be done but has been postponed, it’s advisable to get them done before the inspection. This might include sealing the deck or re-staining it, painting the trim throughout the house, replacing cracked windows, tightening loose gutters, loose doors, replacing toilet valves or leaking faucets. Making your home pristine and like it has been extremely well-cared for will add both value and show the inspector you are someone who takes care of their home and property.
Be Honest
Always be honest with the buyer. If there are any repairs and you’ve not fix them, it’s advisable to tell the buyer in advance, before they or the home inspector identify them. First impressions of the home and your demeanor and level of communication will provide peace of mind and confidence that they should be comfortable with purchasing your home.
While these suggestions are common sense, it is very easy to overlook them. If you have questions about home inspection services in the Albany area, please reach out to Bald Eagle Inspection Services. We would be honored to be of assistance and earn your business.