Steps you can take to prepare for your home inspection

When you are close to the inspection process of your home, it is necessary to follow a series of steps, with the help of your real estate agent, to achieve it successfully.

Use this checklist to prepare for the inspection

Have all the papers handy

Transparency is key. Ideally, you'll have statements or invoices for the renovations, maintenance, and repairs you've done on your home to show the buyer. Create a single file that collects this documentation and share it with the buyer.

Make sure everything is spotless

The house must shine when the inspector arrives; a good first impression will be a great starting point. It is important that you order and clean the house thoroughly. A deep cleaning—including cleaning the range hood and upholstery and sanitizing trash cans—costs between $200 and $400 on average, according to Angie's List, depending on the size and condition of the home.

Remove any obstacles that may block the inspector's access

Take steps to ensure that the inspector has full access to all areas of the property, including electrical panels, the attic, and chimneys. You may need to temporarily remove clothing and other items that impede access.

Leave all services running

In order for the inspector to test items such as the stove, dishwasher, oven, and air conditioning system, the services must be connected regardless of whether the home is empty; otherwise, the inspector may need to reschedule your visit, which could delay the closure.

Fix minor issues on your own

Many cosmetic issues—for example, a broken light fixture or a scratch on the wall—are minor and easy to fix, but can make buyers more concerned with how other areas of the home have been maintained. You'd better fix those little problems yourself before buyer's inspection.

A pre-inspection can play in your favor

Of course, a pre-inspection costs money, typically between $260 and $400, depending on the location and size of the home. But it can allow you to address major issues that could cause a buyer to withdraw their offer, such as: mold, water damage, or foundation cracks.

Less surprises, more benefits

More benefits of pre-inspection: Knowing what needs to be fixed in your home ahead of time will allow you to openly tell buyers about any major pre-existing issues, which can give buyers peace of mind. And you can also let prospective buyers know that those items are already included in the sale price.

A faster negotiation

Doing a pre-listing home inspection can help you shorten, or even eliminate, the slow, back-and-forth process of negotiating.

If you discover any kind of serious problems with the property on a pre-inspection, you are legally required to disclose them to buyers, even if you fix them yourself. Also, there is no guarantee that the buyer's inspection will not reveal things that did not appear on your inspection. The decision to do a pre-inspection is yours, but you never want to anticipate and consider any repairs your home may need well in advance.

Estee Soto

Estee Soto is a real estate agent with eXp Realty, a certified mentor and eXp Latino ambassador, and the CEO and founder of TagCrush LLC, an all-in-one digital marketing platform for real estate agents. She leads the TAGHOMES team, specializing in luxury properties, new developments, and international buyers across Florida.

More information about Estee Soto HERE