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How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

A pre-inspection gives you a heads up on what a buyer will likely discover, and a head start on identifying what to fix and update.

Written byTali Bendzak|November 25, 2019

Deciding to sell your house is often the easy part. What’s harder is actually preparing your home for sale, and a big part of that is getting ready for an inspection. The inspection report is a huge factor in getting your sale to go through, so that’s why many sellers opt to complete a pre-inspection before potential buyers even walk through the door.

Why cough up cash for a pre-inspection if buyers typically pay for a professional inspection of homes they’re serious about? After all, do you really want to know there’s a leak in your roof and that your electrical panel needs updating?

Simply put: Yes, you do. A pre-inspection gives you a heads-up on what a buyer will likely discover and a head start on identifying what to fix and update. You may decide not to do needed repairs, but your selling price will likely need to reflect that.

Reasons to complete a pre-inspection

It’s an indication of honesty: Doing a pre-inspection sends a clear signal that you’re not trying to hide anything. It might even make a buyer feel confident enough to go ahead and submit an offer. Even if a potential buyer decides to pay for another independent inspection, your initiative will convey that you’ve cared for your home. This is especially useful if you’re selling your home on your own, without a listing agent. Showing the buyer that you are willing to go the extra mile is never a bad thing.
It’s a negotiating strategy: Having a thorough inspection of your home keeps you from being blindsided by a major problem in a buyer’s inspection. It allows you to know when to stand firm on price and when you might need to give a bit. For example, if you know your home will need a new roof in a few years but have chosen not to replace it, you may need to give a little on price. Knowledge is power — and in this case, knowing is also part of your bottom line.

What do home inspectors check?

Appliances: They’ll check to make sure any appliance that’s staying with the home is in good working order—like your stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, garage door, and water heater.
Systems: Expect a home inspector to check your home’s big-ticket systems, including electrical, gas, and heating and cooling.
Structural features: They’ll look for any issues with the roof, garage, attic, crawl space, siding, windows, or doors.

Preparing for a home inspection: A do-it-yourself checklist for sellers

Consider a few steps you can take on your own to ensure a smooth inspection. If there’s anything on the list that’s above your DIY comfort level, consider calling in an expert.

Download and print the checklist for handy reference!

1. Clean and declutter inspection access points

Clean furnace filter
Clean stove and oven
Empty storage from attic
Organize any closets that are access points to your attic or crawl space
Clear at least 4 to 6 inches of space around the perimeter of your home’s exterior

2. Test functionality of the items a home inspector will check

Open and close windows and test locks and seals
Flush all toilets and run all faucets
Run any ceiling or bathroom fans
Try all light switches
Open and close garage doors manually and with the remote, then test the reverse safety setting
Confirm weather stripping on doors is intact
Ensure that downspouts are properly diverting water away from the home
Check to make sure heating ducts are connected in crawl space
Check that fan ducts are properly venting out of the attic

3. Take basic safety and security precautions

Replace batteries in smoke detectors
Test carbon monoxide detector
Have a fire extinguisher available
Cap gas lines or chimney entry points
Exterminate bugs or rodents

4. Make necessary repairs to the property

Replace light bulbs
Re-caulk around bathtubs and sinks
Repair any water damage in bathrooms
Remove any drain clogs
Update any dingy grout
Replace torn screens and cracked windows
Replace any missing roofing
Replace damaged insulation in attic and crawl space
Cover crawl space with 6 mm plastic sheeting

5. Complete exterior home improvements

Sweep debris off the roof (or pressure wash if needed)
Trim trees that are near or hanging over the roof line
Clean out gutters
Clear debris from around the A/C compressor, downspout drainage, and foundation vents
Slope soil away from the home for water runoff