How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

After you’ve accepted an offer on your home, there’s one last hurdle to clear before you can consider it a done deal. Buyers have the right to see the result of your home inspection before the final closing date — and to back out of the sale if the results are troubling. So how can you ensure that your residential home inspection inspection day goes smoothly?

The inspection experts at The BrickKicker wrote this guide of our top tips for how to prepare for a home inspection. We’ll discuss what repairs to make prior to home inspection, what home inspections look for, and how to prepare for a home inspection as a seller or a buyer.

Schedule Your Inspection

What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

Home inspectors are hunting for any systems, components, or structural elements that are significantly deficient, near the end of service life, functioning improperly, or simply unsafe. Here’s what your inspector’s checklist will look like:

Ensures Safety for Your Family and Guests

Water in the basement
Plumbing issues
Roof leaks
Asbestos

Compromised Structural Integrity

Cracks in basement walls or around door frames
Gaps around windows or door frames
Gaps between walls and floors
Cracks in bricks or stonework
Leaning front porch or stairs
Cracked or leaning chimney
Nails popping out of walls
Uneven or bouncy floors

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection as a Seller

A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to inspiring confidence in your home inspector. Not only will you save time on inspection day, but you’ll show your commitment to maintaining your home’s heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. Grab your tools, and check the following off your list to prepare for your home inspection.

Fix toilets that run too long after flushing. This is usually an easy task that you can take care of yourself with a few basic tools.
Repair doors that don’t open, close, or lock properly.
Tighten up the screws on cabinet hinges to fix crooked or loose cabinet doors.
Look for evidence of water damage and repair any warping, sagging, or buckling on walls, ceilings, and floors.
If you have a pest problem, don’t wait for the inspector to tell you to call the exterminator! Think you have an infestation? Reach out to learn about The BrickKicker’s termite and pest service.
Replace the furnace filter. Good air quality and a cared-for heating system will make a good impression.
Clearly label your fuse box.
Replace burnt-out bulbs.

Inspection Day Tips

On inspection day, be ready at least two hours in advance and be ready to vacate the area with your family during the inspection- ensuring that you can provide the inspector enough time to complete the inspection. Clean up your home and make these final checks before the inspector arrives:

  • Utilities are on. 
  •  All areas and systems around the home are accessible.
  •  Unlock gates, electrical boxes, sheds, and any other secured area.
  •  Double-check that you’ve left clear access to areas and systems all around the house, and unlock any gates, electrical boxes, or other areas that you normally keep secure. Most of all, be ready at least two hours before the inspector is set to arrive.

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection as a Buyer

It’s easy to feel stressed about how to prepare for a home inspection as a buyer. That’s because it’s outside your control — and you simply have to wait for the results! First off, don’t expect a perfect inspection. Flawless home inspections are essentially unheard of, and the inspector will always come back with a list of issues. 

Fortunately, very few deals (about 2%) actually fall through as the result of the home inspection. Still, it’s best to be prepared for a delay in the home-buying process just in case the owner needs to make some repairs first. If the home requires major repairs, you may even be able to negotiate a lower price

Rely on BrickKicker for Expert Home Inspection Service

The BrickKicker is an inspection service franchise with locations throughout the east coast, west coast, and the midwest. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or property owner, our credentialed inspectors are proud to deliver a wide variety of professional evaluations. Contact us today to learn more about our home inspections, as well as commercial, and environmental services.