General Preparations for Home Inspections
Preparing your home before a home-inspection is truly important. To make things easier, you should plan it properly and start working with enough time on hand; lest you may skip critical factors due to lack of time. For your own convenience, dividing your house in four different sections – the exterior, the interior, the attic and the basement and HVAC system is a good idea.
Preparing the exterior of your house for a home inspection includes foundation of the building, sidings of the roofs, the windows and also the garage. Ensure that all the doors and windows seal properly and without a creaking sound. All deteriorated and missing pieces from the sidings of the roof must be repaired with immediate effect. If you have a chimney, check if its ventilation is properly functioning. In case you have a lawn, trim the grass and make it look as good as possible.
Once you are done with the exteriors, now it is time to turn your attention to the interiors. Confirm that all electrical appliances are in good working condition, and if there is any pending repairing work that should be done immediately. You can also ask your electrician to check out the wiring, so that the home inspection inspector doesn't find any problem with it. Plumbing and electrical systems are often the two major areas of concern during a home inspection, and often they are typically the areas where problems are found. Keeping your house clean and organized will also make a good impression on the inspector and help you to get a good report.
Another area that requires your attention in the interiors is the presence of possible cracks in the walls or in the ceiling. Find the cracks and get them repaired before the inspection is carried out. Not doing so, would considerably de-evaluate your property. Getting the interiors as well as the exteriors freshly painted prior to the inspection also forms a good impression.
Crawl spaces like the basement or the attic are other areas of concern and thus deserve your attention. Before the home inspector climbs down into the basement ensure that it is properly ventilated and there is no debris at the vents. These places must also be absolutely dry, without any water leaks. It is advised to get insulations installed away from the vents.
The last part of your preparation for a home inspection should be concerned with the heating and cooling system of the property. Keep all the filters clean and change them if necessary. Also clean the ducts of your thermostat if the need be, make it work in a perfect condition. The central heating system or your home or the furnace will also be checked by the home inspector, and if you have done a recent upgrade, provide the inspector with the copy of the proof.