Home Inspection How-To for Sellers

After preparing your home to add to the inventory of Nassau County homes for sale, you've accepted an offer. While it may feel like the hard work is over, you still have to make it through the home inspection. Unfortunately, it's common for real estate deals to fall through due to a poor home inspection. Here are a few tips home sellers should follow throughout the home inspection process. 

1. Leave Your Property During the Home Inspection
   While it's common for homebuyers to attend a portion or even all of a home inspection, our REALTORS® recommend that the home seller leave their home during the inspection. You're only going to be nervous and anxious watching someone spend hours combing your home looking for problems.
   
   Your presence may also be awkward for the buyer. Pack up your family (including your pets) and vacate your home during the inspection.
   
   
2. Declutter and Move Large Items Before the Inspection
   See that you move any clutter or large items that may be obscuring items or areas that the inspector will want to examine. For example, if your electrical panel is usually behind a large set of shelving, move the shelving unit so that the inspector has easy access. 
   
   The inspector can't move your belongings during the inspection. If the inspector can't inspect an area, the buyer may be leery of continuing with the deal.
   
   
3. Decide if a Pre-Inspection is Right for Your Home
   Before they list their home with the Suffolk County homes for sale, some sellers arrange a pre-inspection. As the name suggests, a pre-inspection is a home inspection that occurs before the house is put on the market. 
   
   The idea behind a pre-inspection is that it gives you a chance to fix any issues that might pop up during a home inspection (or at least informs you of potential problems). Aren't sure whether your home is impacted by a specific type of issue, such as an outdated electrical system? In that case, the pre-inspection will let you know if it's an issue. 
   
   An argument against a pre-inspection is that it might uncover a lot of minor issues that won't be a big concern with homebuyers. You're unlikely to recoup all of the money that you spend making repairs for any issues detected by the pre-inspection.
   
   
4. Understand What Is and Isn't an Issue
   Every home inspection reports problems with a home, even if the property has been well-maintained. You need to know what issues are high-level problems; these are the items that are likely to be potential dealbreakers if you can't come to a resolution with the buyer about how to handle them. Any problems that involve code violations or a health issue will likely require your attention before your deal can close. The issues include:

• Water damage
• Problems with the home's structural integrity (like foundation issues)
• Plumbing problems
• Unreliable HVAC systems
• Roof damage
• Damage to the electrical system
• Problems with the subflooring 

5. See That Your Utilities are All Turned On
   If you're still living in the home, this tip might not be necessary, but if you've already moved, make sure that all your utilities (like your water, electricity, and gas) are turned on. The inspector needs these items to work to test your home's major systems. 

Have more questions about selling your home? Contact us today for assistance!