10 Ways the Seller can Prepare for a Home Inspection

You have your home under contract, the appraisal has been ordered and things are moving pretty fast. The sales contract states that your buyer has ten days in which to conduct a property inspection. Now two of those days are gone and you don't have much time to waist.

Here are some tips for preparing for your home check-up.

1. Unlock all gates and doors to allow free access to rear yards, storage rooms and other areas normally locked or off limits.
2. Plan to have pets contained or boarded to prevent bites, lost pets, or a frightened inspector.
3. Remove personal items from underneath pull down stair ways, attic access doors and scuttle hole crawl spaces.
4. Remove personal items from in front to the electrical panel. Especially important in storage rooms.
5. Replace burned out or broken attic and crawl space lamps.
6. Have available any permits you acquired while remodeling or having repairs made since you moved in.
7. Provide the inspector with a disclosure statement on your home.
8. If you have a system or component that does not operate tell the inspector and give a reason why and how long it has not worked.
9. Do not rush the inspector or interrupt their inspection. Usually a home inspection will take about 2-3 hours.
10. Make sure all windows and doors are in proper operating condition.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, (ASHI), a residential home inspector is responsible for inspecting the readily accessible systems and components of your home. They are to inspect the systems and components and report on the areas which, in the professional opinion of the inspector, are deficient or significantly deficient. The inspector is to state a reason why those items are deficient and report their recommendations to correct or monitor the reported deficiency.

The inspector is also to report on the items not inspected and give a reason why those items were not inspected.

Great care should be taken by the inspector to leave the property in the condition they found it. With your help and these tips your inspection will be a smooth process and you'll be unpacking in your new home soon.