Home Inspections – 10 Tips To Ace Your Home Inspection. Today’s guest blog is by New York State Lawyer. The opinions expressed by the author in this and all guest blogs are not necessarily those of Gainesville Restoration and Remodeling
Home Inspections – 10 Tips To Ace Your Home Inspection
The purpose of a home inspection is to guarantee the safety of the people who are going to live within the home. The results of a home inspection can make or break a deal for a house on the market. The construction plan and quality of materials utilized play a huge role in establishing the integrity of the real estate. Therefore, consider all aspects of your house design if you wish to sell it in the future. Here are 10 ways to assure a smooth inspection and leave a lasting impression on the potential buyer:
1. Roof Repairs
Problems in the roof are a major red flag in a home inspection. The presence of any leaks can greatly damage your score. Repairing roofs can be costly, but you should call in a contractor to have a look and give a reasonable estimate. Refrain from temporary or cosmetic fixes because this could lead to a personal injury lawsuit.
2. Fix Drainage Problems
Poor drainage is the most frequent shortcoming discovered by home inspectors. It can ruin your home’s foundation and cause further problems like cracks in the walls, stuck door, tilted cabinets, floor tile upheaval, and dampness. Your downspouts should be wide and draw water away from your property.
3. Even out Floors
Slide a marble across the floor to assess its unevenness; if it keeps rolling in one direction, call in a professional to evaluate the level of damage. Sometimes the issue is minor, owing to wearing material of old tiles. Other times, the problem might indicate deeper issues, such as an impaired foundation; in this case, restoration might kill your budget.
4. Lighting Check
Ensure sound lighting to eradicate any issues with electricity. If the inspector comes across burned out bulbs, they may mention ‘faulty wiring’ in the report.
5. De-clutter
A happy home inspector will certainly work in your favor, so facilitate the process by making the task easier for him/her. Empty all appliances, remove obstacles, and keep the place tidy. Moving around the house should be convenient; if any part is unreachable, he/she will mark it as ‘inaccessible’ and the inspection will go into pending.
6. Eliminate Plumbing Issues
Leaky faucets, clogged sinks & toilets, exposed rusty pipes, and other defective products can raise serious concerns. The buyer and the home inspection agent may assess it as a bigger problem than it really is. Therefore, call in a plumber and make sure your plumbing system looks flawless. Consider replacing rusty pipes or fixtures.
7. Enhance the Exterior
A house that looks beautiful from the outside has good aesthetic value, which increases its worth. The windows, driveway, fence, sidewalks, and backyard should appear as ‘prim and proper’.
8. HVAC Service
The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system of the house should be serviced before the inspection takes place. Functional issues may devalue your property or change the mind of the potential buyer. A house that goes off the market and then returns shortly gains a bad reputation; people become suspicious that there’s something terribly wrong with it.
9. Keep the Receipts
When you spend money to bring a house to pristine conditions, you must have proof of it. If the inspector or buyer has apprehensions, you can show that you took care of things.
10. Admit to Obvious Issues
If you failed to get the place fixed before home inspection or prefer the buyer to invest in repairs, be frank about it. You must point out the noticeable faults in advance because the inspector will discover them anyway. Hiding the facts and then getting caught will only make you look dishonest.