5 Home Inspection Tips for Sellers

Sometimes when we hear “home inspection,” we get that nervous feeling in our stomach. What will they find? What will it cost to fix it? So many questions can run through your mind… But, your home inspection doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. We all know that things happen around our house over time. We have to stay on top of maintenance and repairs to avoid larger problems later on down the road.

At Missouri Home, Farm & Land Realty, LLC, we recommend taking a look around and fixing what you can, whether that involves breaking out the toolbox or simply cleaning up some areas that may need a little TLC. Making minor improvements will only help you when it comes to inspection time. Inspectors understand that there is going to be some wear and tear as a house ages, but why not do some preemptive checks yourself to help? Check out these 5 tips below to help make this process go a lot more smoothly for you and your potential buyers!

1. Talk to Your Realtor

That’s what they are there for! Realtors work with inspectors and properties all of the time. They know what they are looking at and looking for in terms of maintenance issues that might need to be addressed. They can help create a game plan for how to tackle any issues that they think may cause a roadblock, and after the inspection, they can help you navigate through any potential findings and if you need to fix them or try to negotiate.

2. Clear the Clutter

Don’t let clutter come in the way of the inspectors being able to do their examinations. They have to be able to get to certain areas of your home, so if you have furniture, boxes, or other items in the way, they can’t mark items off of their checklist.

Try to clear paths to the electrical panel, foundation, crawl space, basement walls, attic, etc. They can’t do their jobs if they can’t get access to what they need. They will either mark it down as unchecked, or they will have to schedule a time to come back. Make it easy on everyone the first time by clearing out any clutter that could potentially prevent the job from getting done.

3. Make Some Touch-Ups

While you may not want to make any major repairs just yet, there are some small jobs that could be done ahead of time to help your inspection. If you have a leaky faucet or disconnected guttering, give those a little attention. Make sure you replace any bulbs that are out, add cover plates to outlets and switches, replace your furnace filter, repair or replace damaged window screens, etc. These are just a few examples of things that can be fixed fairly quickly. They will not only help the inspection process on paper, but they will also show that you have cared for the home, which can go a long way!

4. Make Sure Everything Works

A home inspector’s goal is to ensure the home is fully operational and safe so that buyers can make more informed decisions. With that, you might need to check out a few of your home’s systems to make sure they are working properly before the inspection. Here are a few things to test out prior to your inspection:

• electrical outlets
• light switches
• plumbing
• HVAC system
• guttering
• appliances (oven, stover, etc.)

5. Make Yourself (and Your Furry Friends) Scarce

The home inspector doesn’t need help from your furry family members. Likewise, it is recommended that the sellers aren’t there, either. It can feel disheartening to hear about things that are “wrong” with your home, so it’s best to see a report once it’s over. Plus, you don’t want to make the buyers uncomfortable. As for your pets, putting them in a crate or a room isn’t a viable option. They need to be out of the house along with everyone else so that the inspector and buyers don’t have to worry about anything or be distracted.

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When it comes to selling your home, this process is just one piece of the puzzle. Your real estate agents can help give you guidance on this process and assist you in presenting your home well. Call Missouri Home, Farm & Land Realty, LLC. This is what we do! Give us a call at 417-777-3300 or click here to contact us on our website.