How to Prepare for a Home Inspection: Tips for Sellers

The most important aspect of purchasing a Calgary home is the home inspection. 95% of homebuyers prefer to have one done before taking ownership of a property. This statistic should be enough to motivate you and your home to prepare for the arrival of the home inspector if you are planning on putting your home up for sale.

Are you unsure where to begin? These are some of the helpful tips we have for you to prepare for your home inspection in calgary AB.

You should only allow the home inspector to visit once

Your schedule is very hectic. We are sure you would like to reduce the number of people who visit your home due to the current crisis. Before the inspector arrives, ensure that all major components are working order. This will ensure that everything runs smoothly. Although it may seem tedious, ensuring that all utilities (e.g. water, gas, electric, and electrical) are on and the pilot lights for water heaters, fireplaces, and water heaters are lit properly can help you save time.

The inspector might have to return another day if, for instance, the gas is cut off or the inspection cannot be completed. If you notice that one of the systems is not working properly, let the inspector know.

Do repairs before it is too late

You can save money by making small repairs before the home inspection. Repairing broken windows or replacing missing chimney flue caps are simple, affordable tasks that can add up quickly if left unattended. These things can be fixed quickly to avoid them appearing as distracting issues on your home inspection report. A shorter list can help you sell faster and get closer to your asking prices.

You can also address small problems before the inspection:

• Clean gutters and ensure downspouts are securely attached to drain away from the foundation.
• Replacing damaged switches and lightbulbs
• All HVAC equipment should be serviced. This includes cleaning and replacing any air filters.
• Move stored items from the exterior foundation

Day-of preparations for home inspection

You can do many things before the inspection to make sure we do our job safely and accurately. The inspection may take two and three hours depending on how large your house is. Please ensure that your pets do not interfere with the inspection.

Do you have dishes that are dirty and need to be cleaned? You can put them in the dishwasher with a detergent pouch. No matter what, we will inspect the dishwasher and load the detergent pod with soap. This will give the impression that we have done the hard work rather than wasting your time.

You should not use a fireplace or wood burning stove in your home the night before or on the day of inspection. This is a difficult decision as we get into cooler months. However, both the fireplace and stove should be clean before we arrive.

Access is the key, so don’t be surprised if I make fun of you! The inspector should be able to access all areas and major property elements on the day of the home inspection. All doors, closets, and gates should be left unlocked. Also, deactivate security systems. Clear out personal belongings that may be blocking any of the areas. For example, if items block the attic hatch, you can find another space. It is easier for us to reach the areas we need to inspect. This will make the process quicker and more efficient.

Home inspections are just as beneficial to the seller of a home for the buyer. We want to make the process as stress-free and painless as possible during these difficult times. We recommend maintaining your home with regular and annual home maintenance to make it easier and avoid any small dings in a report. It is important to be consistent and avoid costly surprises later.

These tips should have prepared you for the upcoming visit to you home. We look forward to meeting you!