The last two home inspections were disastrous!!!!! Deferred maintenance on the seller's part has created issues......filthy furnaces, plumbing leaks, loose wiring, visible dry rot, carpenter ants.......really??????
If you plan to put your home on the market soon, let's take a moment and walk around the house....when did you change the furnace filter last??? last month?? last year??? never??? Check your furnace and locate or purchase a fresh filter....you'd be surprised how much better the furnace will work....
Look both outside and inside for bugs....typically this is the time of year when bugs begin to appear-small 'sugar' ants, carpenter ants, wood boring beetles just to mention a few.....if you see them around your foundation or in the house...on the counters, in the bathrooms, under the sinks...call a local 'bug' guy and get a spray...I've got a guy who includes a one year guarantee....if he does't get 'em all in the first spray, he'll be back to finish the job!
Look up....does the roof have missing shingles or moss??? If you have missing shingles, you may also have a roof leak...removal of roof moss is almost always called for in the sale of your property. Call a local roofer and ask him to replace missing shingles....and get a recommendation for a product to remove the moss...or ask him to remove it for you.
Have you opened your crawlspace lately and stuck your head down there???? Does it smell 'dry' or 'wet'...use a flashlight and see if you have a 'pond' down there....and while you're looking, is all of your crawlspace covered by black plastic??? It's required too......
Walk around the outside of your house.....is the dirt or bark dust up to the edge or inside of your crawlspace vents??? It needs to be below the opening....use a shovel to push back the excess dirt or bark dust away from the vent opening...
Is your firewood stacked near the house siding.....move it away from the siding and check to see if bugs have gathered....and see if there is bug damage....
Look under the sinks....do you see water leaks...call a plumber and get them fixed before they cause significant damage....
That's just a few hints......it's best to be prepared for putting your house on the market....than be surprised by a home inspection!!!!
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