I thought that it would be productive to Post the Seller's Best Setup to make his Home Inspection go smoothly and protect his home and property:
SELLERS
Here are some suggestions for homeowners:
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Accessibility: Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible:
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The path to the attic hatch(es) should be cleared. Move vehicles from under attic hatches in the garage and removed stored items and clothing from under closet attic entries. Inspectors will almost always spill insulation entering the attic because normal movement and settlement of the insulation will cause some to settle around the edges of the hatch. Remember that a ladder will be required under the hatch and clear the area that you would if you were the one going up.
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The crawl space access should be free. If the crwal space hatch (the entrance to the space under the main level of your house) is in a closet, please remove stored items on top of the hatch. Make it possible to simply lift the cover and crawl in.
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The main electrical panelshould have a path cleared to it and a space wide enough and deep enough to allow the inspector to remove the cover and examine the interior. Any ASHI inspector will remove this cover. If you have shelving that blocks this panel, consider removing it as an access space to allow an electrician to work on the panel is required by code and an inaccessible panel WILL show up on your inspection as a negative comment.
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Trees or bushes in contact with the house, especially the roof, will show up on the inspection. If you trim these before, the negative comment will never happen!
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Housekeeping: The inspector may photograph your home for the inspection report, so clearing the clutter and moving vehicles from the front of the home will help the inspection go smoother.
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Maintenance: Repair minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
Great tips Robert, Another tip is for the seller to have their own inspection prior to listing the home. That way they don't run into any surprises in Escrow and can disclose any issues properly to the potential buyers.
One more thing, it would be great if the sellers made sure that any animals were taken off of the property or put in a pet carrier during the inspection!