In Part 1, I detailed what’s generally involved in a home inspection from the seller’s point of view. In this part, I’ve included a list of things you can do to make your home inspection go more smoothly.

Start outside

• Repair minor things like loose steps, rotted trim, disconnected gutters, and anything else that can be quickly and easily prepared.
• Check for loose metal flashing around your chimney, plumbing vents, and elsewhere on your roof.
• Some minor landscaping may also give your home a more polished look, which may improve the inspector’s overall opinion of the home (just don’t use landscaping to try to hide defects).

Inside

• Give your mechanical systems an honest once-over. Make sure that your furnace and/or air conditioning units have been inspected recently. Also have your chimney cleaned.
• Fix leaky fixtures. Also fix any electrical outlets that aren’t working.
• Make sure that any damage to interior paint or trim is fixed. Consider painting rooms that have stains or marks on the walls, but stick with a neutral color.

Another smart way to survive a home inspection is to get one done yourself prior to getting any offers. This way you’ll know exactly what should turn up in a buyer’s home inspection. Finding a major problem after a home inspection can ruin a sale, especially if problems turn up that both the buyer and seller didn’t expect.

Via realestate.aol.com

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Filed under: Investment Homes, Selling, Tools, Vacation Homes