Author: buildinginsights_vkv4y8

Some homeowners feel a bit anxious before a home inspection occurs since the findings can influence the property price and ultimately helps buyers decide if they want to continue on with the buying process.

Here are 7 ways to prepare your home before a potential buyer and inspector visits.

1) Clean inside and outside. Not only will you want to make sure the inside of the house is easy to maneuver around in by removing clutter, you will also want to make sure you clean out your gutters in the spring/fall, and remove snow from around your house in the winter.

2) Clear access to all areas of your house. Home inspectors will inspect areas of your house that may not get much use, which results in cluttered and blocked off areas. Make sure the home inspector can easily get to your electrical box, furnace, hot water heater, air condition, and attic. 

3) Make sure everything works. Go around you house and test everything! This includes light bulbs, smoke detectors, doorbells, sinks/faucets, outlets, toilets, windows, and appliances. Most of these issues are quick and easy fixes and will improve the final inspection report.

4) Fix known issues before inspection. If you’ve noticed any signs of water damage, mold, or electrical issues while living in your house, address these issues with a professional beforehand. These common issues have resulted in potential buyers walking away from a house, or re-negotiating the price, which is why it may be worth the cost to fix beforehand.

5) Take a closer look at your basement. Basements aren’t always used, so it’s important to closely inspect this area before an inspector visits. Look for leaks and cracks that may suggest foundation and water issues.

6) Make paperwork available to inspector. To give the inspector greater knowledge of your property, leave any documentation/receipts regarding recent maintenance and repairs you may have done, including information about your roof, furnace and water heater.

7) Be prepared to leave your home during inspection. While potential homeowners are encouraged to attend home inspections to learn more about the property, it is suggested that the current homeowners leave for a few hours, and take pets with them. Be mindful that home inspectors usually show up a bit early to visually assess the outside of the property before their clients arrive.

Home inspections shouldn’t be a scary thing, and a little preparation before can go a long way! Following these simple steps can help ensure your home inspection goes quickly and smoothly. 

Whether you are buying or selling a house, a home inspection is invaluable to both parties. Most homeowners are aware of the standard pre-purchase inspection, but many do not know the benefits of a pre-listing or pre-offer inspection. 

Pre-Listing Inspection

A pre-listing inspection takes place by the seller prior to putting the property on the market, and has countless benefits for homeowners, realtors, and potential buyers. The valuable information found during this inspection can be used to assess a reasonable value sale price. If issues are found during this inspection, homeowners have time to fix them, which will increase the value of their home.

Knowing your house from top to bottom can facilitate a quicker sale and eliminate the need for re-negotiating. Sharing your findings of this inspection will give potential buyers a good idea of the condition of your home, and can help eliminate conditional offers. Many homeowners will use this report as a marketing tool to sell their home; potential buyers will read the report, consider the potential issues and make an informed decision, resulting in only serious buyers putting in offers.

Pre-Offer Inspection

A pre-offer inspection is done by buyers prior to putting an offer in on a property, and will be as thorough and informative as a pre-purchase inspection. This type of inspection is beneficial for buyers for many reasons, including making their offer more attractive to the sellers. Removing the condition of a home inspection from the offer may speed the purchasing process along. In addition, buyers will be able to make an educated price offer based on the information provided in the inspection.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

Deciding to have a pre-purchase inspection allows potential homeowners to walk through the property with a professional inspector after putting an offer in on the property. The home inspector will provide valuable information so that homeowners can make an educated decision whether they want to continue with the buying process. In addition, the home inspector will explain how your potential new home operates, how to take care of it, and repairs you can anticipate in the future.

Having an objective and comprehensive review of the condition of a property by a qualified, professional inspector is beneficial to both buyers and sellers in all stages of the home buying/selling process. Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial investments a person will make, however, having all of the essential information provided by a home inspection will make sure you are confident in your decision.

A home inspection is the first thing you will invest in during the home selling or home buying process. Not all home inspectors are created equal, which is why it is important that you do your homework before selecting one.

When it comes to hiring a home inspector, here are some important questions to ask:

Do they belong to an association?

While joining a home inspection association is a great first step when becoming a home inspector, customers should be aware that inspectors pay a fee to join an association. This means that they don’t necessarily have any other certifications or experience to back it up.

What are their qualifications?

You should make sure that your inspector has their registered home inspector certification (RHI), which ensures they are trained to objectively provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the home, while abiding to a specific code of ethics. Although the Ontario government has passed a bill to licence the industry, it has not yet taken effect and it may be some time before it does. Therefore you must remain diligent in your selection.

When an inspector has relevant trade experience, they bring so much more expertize to the table. Look for someone who not only has their registered home inspector certification, but has more hands-on experience in certain trades, such as electrical, plumbing or roofing.

How long have they been in the business?

The amount of years a home inspector has been in the business reflects highly on the quality of their work. Picking someone who has been trusted by hundreds of home owners and has a great reputation in your community will give you confidence that you can really trust their analysis and recommendations.

How well do they communicate?

Not every home owner has experience in spotting and understanding potential issues in a home. When selecting a home inspector, you should pick one that you feel at ease with and that encourages questions. An expert inspector should take the time to explain how your home operates, how to take care of it, and discusses repairs you can anticipate down the road. Do they share their experience and recommendations in a way that everyone can understand? The answer should be yes! 

Purchasing a home is a major decision, that comes with a huge amount of stress. Most consumers spend weeks, months and even years searching for their dream home, but won’t take much time to consider who will search this home for potential issues. It is imperative to maintain the same standards when it comes to choosing your home inspector, as you do when choosing your new house.

• sprinkling bay leaves or cayenne pepper near cracks and entry points. Ants hate the scent and will move elsewhere.
• spray a cleaning solution of vinegar, water, and about ten drops of tea tree oil around your counters and doorway
• draw chalk lines around your doorways and windowsills. Ants do not like particles sticking to their feet
• If a colony is well established in the home, various chemical treatments are available (although they are not ecologically friendly or humane).