Prior to Listing Conduct a Home Inspection

Prior to listing your home you should have an independent inspector give the house a once over. That way, problems can be spotted — and corrected — before a would-be buyer ever gets wind of them. Before you have your home inspected you should fix items you know are broken — the little things every owner learns to live with — before they become bargaining points. Your agent should provide you with a pre-inspection checklist so all parties can be as sure as possible that the house is inspection-ready. There are a lot of things you (the seller) can do, but if you are not skilled at certain repairs, even the simplest ones, you should call a professional. Not only can inspectors spot amateurish, sub-par work, they will wonder about the quality of repairs that are less visible. When repairs are made, either by you (the seller) or a professional contractor, it’s a good idea to have paid receipts and warranties on hand for the inspector and buyer. Finally, on the day of the inspection, sellers should give the examiner full access to the attic, crawlspace, electrical panels, furnace, air conditioner and water heater. Get the clutter out of the way, and then take the kids and the dog and go out for a few hours so the examiner can do his job efficiently and without interference.