Sellers- Prepare For Invasion (Getting the jump on the home inspector)

You KNOW he's coming, and you know he's nosey. He'll be here soon with all his gadgets, and peering into every nook and cranny.

He'll be opening up places that only spiders and your equally nosey Aunt Petunia have ever seen. This guy also has a big mouth, and he will soon tell the world about all the secrets your home now holds.

So, what can you do? Can this maniac be stopped? Probably Not! But there are certain things you can do to prepare (No, not setting bear traps in the crawl space), and make it a more positive experience. So, seriously, here is your SELLERS CHECKLIST:

THINGS SELLERS CAN DO

1. Clear boxes, furniture, equipment away from the following areas: electrical panel, hot water heater, furnace, air conditioner, plumbing access panels, crawl space access, and attic access (If access is a closet, clear it out). Clear out under sinks, so that pipes can be seen.

2. Unlock any locked areas, such as office, garage, storage building, etc.

3. Replace any burned out light bulbs. Make sure interior and exterior fixtures are in good working order. Tighten any outlet covers that may be loose, replace broken or missing ones.

4. Make sure your smoke detectors are working, change batteries if necessary.

5. Change filters in the furnace and air conditioner units. If you have a well, change the water filter as well.

6. Try to take care of any routine maintenance, or small repair issues; such as- clean out gutters, tighten door knobs, and make sure they are working properly, clean out fireplace, make sure damper is working. If you have a water softener, make sure it is working, and filled with salt. Make sure drains are not clogged or running slowly. Make sure toilets flush and stop properly. Fix any drips or leaks that you see.

7.  Make sure that any animals or pets are caged, tied up, or removed during the home inspection.

8. Leave remotes to garage door openers, ceiling fans, automatic shades, etc. where they can be easily located. Leave keys for any areas that remain locked.

9. Allow the inspector and your potential buyer at least 3 hours where they can go though the home undisturbed. (Even if that means packing up the kids and heading to grandmas for awhile). If you must stay in the house, don't follow them around. This alllows them the privacy and freedom to discuss any issues about the home, and not have to worry about offending someone.

10. Leave any special instructions for the home inspector and/or realtor where they can see them (kitchen counter). If there are still items that are not working, or not safe, or should not be operated, let them know.

OK, there you have it. You and your home are as ready as you can be. Taking care of all those little details really helps, and makes for a much better impression of your home during an inspection.

I just saw a blog post where a realtor suggests that realtors supply $100 to sellers towards a handyman to fix up some of these minor things. I think that is a wonderful suggestion! It would take care of many minor little items, and maybe even motivate the seller to do even more, once he has a handyman on the job.