preparing for a home inspection - avenuehq...preparing for a home inspection here are some ways to...

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PreparingforaHomeInspection

Herearesomewaystomakeyourhomeinspectiongosmootherwithfewerconcernstodelayclosing.MuchlikeashowingtheSellerisNOTpresentonthepropertyduringtheinspection.Theinspectioncantakefrom2-4hourstocomplete.

1. Makesuretheinspectorhasaccess,notonlytothehouse,butalsotothefurnace,waterheaterandairconditioningunits(especiallyinclosets,atticsandcrawlspaces).

2. RemoveitemsblockingaccesstoHVACequipment,electricservice,panels,waterheaters,etc.

3. Checktoseethatthegarageisopenandthatanywaterheater,utilitypanelandshutoffsandresetsforgroundfaultcircuitinterrupters(GFCIs)within,areaccessible.

4. Unlockareastheinspectormustaccess,suchasatticdoorsorhatches,electricservicepanels,closets,fencegatesandcrawlspaces.

5. Ensurethatallutilityservicesareon,withgaspilotlightsburning.Ifyouhavein-Rloorheat,pleaseturnitoninadvance,soitisworkingforinspection.

6. Besurepetswon'thindertheinspection.Ideally,theyshouldberemovedfromthepremisesorsecuredoutside.Tellyouragentaboutanypetsathome.

7. Replaceburnedoutbulbstoavoida"lightdidnotoperate"reportthatmaysuggestanelectricalproblem.

8. Removestoreditems,debrisandwoodfromthefoundation.Thesemaybecitedasconditionsconducivetowooddestroyinginsects.

9. Trimtreelimbsto10feetfromtheroofandshrubsto1footfromthehousetoallowaccess.Checkthegradeatthefoundationtoensurewaterdrainageawayfromhome.

10.Attendtobrokenormissingitemssuchasdoorknobs,locksandlatches,windowpanes,screensandlocks,andgutters,downspoutsandchimneycaps.

11.Replaceanysmokeandcarbonmonoxidedetectorsolderthan10yearsofage.

12.Haveyourroofcheckedforanyleaksormissing/looseshinglesorRlashings.13.Pleaseensurethatthewaterisonjustliketheotherutilities.Duringthecoldermonthssomesellersturntheirwatermainoffwhentheyareawayfromtheproperty.Theinspectorisnotallowedtoturnanyutilitybackon,sopleasecheck.

Checkingthoseareasbeforeyourhomeinspectionisaninvestmentinsellingyourproperty,andwillexpediteyourclosing.