If you’re a seller and would like to learn some home inspection tips and tricks you’ve come to the right place! The team at Oninspecte has carefully put together a list of some helpful tips for sellers to keep in mind while preparing their property.
Tip 1: Look for Deteriorated Wood
Home inspectors frequently discover degraded or “rotted” wood. Homeowners may simply use a screwdriver or knife to check for soft or rotting wood before getting a home inspection, but using an awl is a wiser choice.
Rotted wood can be easily fixed, but it is unattractive and discourages some potential buyers. Fix the rotten wood instead of being tempted to paint over it.
Rotted wood may be found in a variety of places, such as;
- Windowsills
- Garage door corners
- Door jambs
- Porch posts
- Deck posts
Tip 2: Clean up!
Most likely, your prospective buyers and the home inspector will be nosy. They’ll want to check every crack and corner of your home to make sure everything is tidy and in working order.
They’ll open faucets, inspect the edges of your closets, and more. They’ll even examine behind cabinets. It’s essential to perform most of the cleaning ahead to ensure that your buyers will have a smooth visit, going over all the details and ensuring that you don’t have any significant damage.
To cut costs following the home inspection, you should probably pay for any repairs you are aware of and be sure to get in touch with a Montreal contractor to ensure that the repairs are done safely and up to code.
Tip 3: Maintain & Clean your Furnace
The inner unit, or “air handler,” of a forced-air furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump can get quite dirty. The team at Oninspecte has opened up several furnaces only to discover mold and dust everywhere so you can see how this may put off a buyer.
It is recommended that sellers to take off the cover for the furnace or air conditioner to inspect it and have it cleaned by a professional air duct cleaning business.
Tip 4: Check the Attic
For the majority of homeowners, the attic is out of sight and out of mind, so sellers have little idea what’s going on up there. Yet occasionally the sale might be made or broken in the attic.
The team at Oninspecte has seen attics with rodent infestations and roof leaks. These can cause major odor issues, mold, and other health concerns.
You can inspect for a few things if you can climb up into the attic with a flashlight.
- Insulation that is absent or insufficient
- Water staining around roof vents
- Mold development
- Pests
- Insufficient Ventilation
The attic is also the easiest spot to install insulation to increase the comfort of your house and potential buyers will appreciate the work.
Tip 5: Don’t Forget the Outside!
The exterior of the house is equally as important as the interior. Buyers, as well as other neighbors and visitors, will initially notice the house’s appearance.
Proper maintenance and cleaning of your yard and home’s exterior can help you avoid big repairs or expenses. Clean up the outside and ensure everything is in good working order to impress the home inspector and potential buyers.
- Remove any dirt and debris from the gutters. Clean the roof for a more up kept appearance. Dirt on the roof might give the impression of sloppiness, so clean all dust and debris before the inspector arrives.
- Make sure all water that comes to the house, including from downspouts, pumps, and drains is diverted away from the house.
- Replace any damaged bricks, blocks, or roof shingles. This is one of the most visible elements of the house, and any damage to the bricks or shingles would be obvious and should be done before the potential buyers come for a visit.
Conclusion
Most buyers and brokers prefer not to have the sellers present during the home inspection. Although a seller may occasionally be useful in sharing details on the property, many buyers prefer the freedom to do their own independent inspections.
Get ahead of the home inspectors and the buyers and make sure to follow the tips we have listed.