Home Inspections: What To Do When Your Home Is Assessed

There's no avoiding a home inspection when selling your home, and that's a scary thought for many sellers. Even if the home is in great shape, there's no escaping a little worry about what the inspection might discover. Fortunately, while a home inspection may turn up unexpected issues, it's still fairly rare for an inspection to cause a deal to fall apart completely. Preparing for the process will make your life much easier. Get started with this list of what to do when your home is the hot seat.

1. Lean on Your Real Estate Agent
   Just like with many other aspects of selling your home, your real estate agent likely has much more experience with home inspections than you do. So don't be afraid to lean on them for advice! Your agent can provide general tips and also specific advice about what to look for with your unique home.
2. Do Your Own Walkthrough
   Before inspection time, do your own walkthrough of the home to spot any issues that need to be addressed. Look for signs of leaks, strange smells, loud, poorly running appliances, and anything else that may catch the eye of the inspector.
3. Provide Easy Access to the Home
   Making the inspector's job easier will ultimately make the process run more smoothly for everyone involved. Make sure the home is clean and de-cluttered and that all utilities are turned on when the inspector arrives.
4. Compile the Necessary Paperwork
   Make life easier by gathering the necessary paperwork long before the inspector arrives. Important paperwork includes receipts for any work/routine maintenance on the home and proof of age for major appliances.
5. Look for Leaks, Mold, and Mildew
   Buyers and inspectors alike will be looking for mold, mildew, and potential leaks. Clean the home from top to bottom, eliminate mold and mildew, and call a contractor if you see any signs of a leak.
6. Check HVAC Filters
   The HVAC system is sure to be looked over by the home inspector, so ensure your system is in the best shape possible. Replacing HVAC filters is cheap, easy, and leaves one less thing to worry about when inspection time arrives.
7. Check Major Appliances
   Run all of your major appliances, including the dishwasher, washer, and dryer, through a full cycle in order to make sure they're working properly. If there are any serious issues, consider having the appliance repaired or replaced.
8. Fix Issues, but Don't Try to Conceal Them
   While fixing maintenance issues is a great idea before inspection time, trying to conceal known issues is not. Inspectors are thorough and know how to see past attempts to conceal known issues with the home. Fix it or leave it how it is, but don't try to hide it.
9. Consider a Pre-inspection
   If you're concerned about the home inspection process, a pre-inspection can provide some peace of mind — along with a to-do list. During a pre-inspection, an inspector will review the home and note any issues you'll want to take care of before the real inspection arrives.

While there's no way to guarantee that an inspection won't turn up any issues when selling your home, taking the time to prepare puts you in a much better position. If you have specific questions about your home prior to inspection, your real estate agent should be an excellent source of advice.

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