How to Prepare for a Home Inspection as a Seller.

Congratulations on steadily making progress to becoming a homeowner. Your home inspection is one step closer to that achievement. Here are 5 tips to prepare you for your inspection.

1. Schedule your inspection as soon as possible.

   Your home purchase contract should include an inspection contingency that gives you the buyer a specific number of days to complete an inspection. This can vary on market conditions in the area but your realtor should have this answer readily available before the seller accepts your offer. It’s important to choose an inspector early and discuss scheduling a date for an inspection well in advance.

2. Try to obtain information for the inspector prior to the inspection.

   Often home inspectors will ask for information about the property prior to their inspection. The more information you can provide ahead of time, the easier it becomes to ensure a thorough inspection the first time. Luckily, your real estate agent can assist on any items you may not have the answer to.

   Typically, these questions will address various topics such as the size and age of the home, if it’s vacant or not. Are the utilities turned on or off? These items usually affect an inspection well before it’s started. For example, if there is no running water to the home the inspector will not be able to confirm the functionality of the plumbing fixtures.

3. Try to be present for the home inspection.

   A typical home inspection takes 2-4 hours to complete. During this time the home inspector works for you. During the inspection, it’s an excellent opportunity to find out about the home’s condition in person and address any concerns you have directly.

4. Be aware of what an inspection does and does not include.

   We recommend you check with Florida’s Home Inspector Standard Practices. This outlines what is inspected and what is not. A home inspection is an unbiased limited visual examination of the general condition of the physical structure and systems of a house and garage at the time of the inspection.

   This means that some items are not included in a standard home inspection. For example, the inspection of a Shed. Additionally, an inspector can only report what they see; not what’s inside a wall, under a carpeted floor, behind the seller’s personal belongings, or items that are buried underground. If there is something that is inaccessible for the inspector to confirm at the time of the inspection it will be documented in the report.

5. Take time to understand your home inspection report.

   Most inspectors like HOMESHAPE, provide a sample inspection report for review at any time on their website. It’s important to know there are many systems and components in a home inspection report and it’s very easy for a report to have large page counts. This is often due to the number of photos added to provide a thorough report. Luckily the home inspector is there to provide any answers to questions you may have about your report.

Remember, your home is one of the largest and most valuable investments you’ll make. Home inspections help ensure you’re making the most informed decision possible on the condition of the home.

Are you a homeowner selling their home?

Check out our 8 tips on How to Prepare for a Home Inspection as a Seller.

Who is HomeShape, you might ask? HomeShape is a state-licensed home inspection company based in Sanford, FL. Our blog has been recognized for its unique approach topics about home maintenance and extensive resources for homeowners and real estate agents.