7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Home Inspection
When selling your home, you want to ensure it’s in its best shape. After all, buyers will often ignore homes that need repairs after they move in. A home inspection is an ideal choice, as it can highlight the problems that need fixing. However, there are also things you can do to make sure the inspection goes as smoothly as possible. To help you with this, we put together a list of 7 tips to get the most out of your home inspection, and we hope you find it helpful.
1. Make sure to be there for the inspection
While the process is carried out by a trained professional, you should also be present if you want to get the most out of your home inspection. Being there lets you see all the issues in person and better understand what needs to be fixed. Additionally, your home inspector might need directions to where specific things are around your home. So, being there for the inspection means you can ensure everything goes smoothly and understand the details. However, it’s also valuable to know what’s included in a home inspection and what isn’t. That can help streamline the process, which is pretty helpful overall.
2. Plan to have enough time for the inspection
Next on the list of tips to get the most out of your home inspection is to plan your time properly. A home inspection can take up to several hours, depending on the size of your house. And as we already mentioned, ideally, you want to be there while the inspection is ongoing. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid any distractions during the process. Also, the last thing you want is for the inspection to feel rushed. Especially if you plan on selling your home soon, for example, this summer, you’ll want to ensure no issues go undetected. And since buyers tend to be quite picky, prepare your home for this as best as possible. If they can find no faults, it’s much more likely that your home will sell.
3. Make sure the inspector is trustworthy before hiring them
Unfortunately, there is no universal standard for licensing for home inspectors in the US. Before hiring one, you’ll want to look into your state’s requirements for a home inspector license. Then, when you find a potential inspector, interview them to ensure they meet the requirements. Finally, take the time to look at your state organization’s websites, as these usually have a list of local inspectors and all the relevant details. Additionally, you should know what to do if damage is discovered during the inspection. After all, finding the problem is only the start of fixing it, so make sure you know how to follow up.
4. Get pictures of the problems
A home inspector worth their salt will bring a camera to the inspection. Whether preparing to sell your home or just checking for potential problems, getting pictures of the issues present is a good idea. That can be used as proof and visual aid for professionals you hire to fix the problem. Words can only go so far when explaining a problem, so having a photo or two can be helpful. Additionally, thermal and infrared cameras can offer insight into the floors and walls of your home without ripping them up. However, we should mention that some inspectors charge extra for this equipment.
5. Ask questions during the inspection where needed
Next on the list of tips to get the most out of your home inspection: if something is unclear, ask your inspector about it. After all, the problems discovered during a home inspection are often specific. Additionally, your inspector might have an idea as to how to deal with specific problems. Because of this, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions during the inspection and afterward. Having a deeper understanding of these problems is also helpful when making a maintenance schedule for your home. After all, prevention is the best solution to most of these issues, and a proper maintenance schedule is the best way to make sure nothing goes wrong in the first place.
6. Perform a pre-inspection yourself
Having a thorough look through your home before the official inspection has some things going for it. Firstly, you can get an idea of what might be a problem before it gets confirmed by the inspection. When it comes to something like leaks or infestations, this can be vital in preventing them from escalating. Second, if you know what’s wrong, you can point potential issues out to your home inspector. That can help a lot when it comes to identifying actual problems.
7. Ask if the inspector knows professionals who could deal with your problems
If the inspection reveals a problem that needs fixing sooner rather than later, ask your inspector if they can refer you to someone. After all, as home inspectors, they undoubtedly come in contact with professional handymen and other repairmen. So, if they find a problem, they should be able to point you to someone who can help you fix the issue. And since these problems tend to be serious, getting the best of the best to help you fix them is the best choice.
7 tips to get the most out of your home inspection – closing thoughts
Whether you’re planning to sell your home or checking for potential problems, a home inspection is essential. After all, this is the best way to ensure there are (or aren’t) any problems that need fixing around the property. But there are some things you can do to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. We hope this list of 7 tips to get the most out of your home inspection is informative, and we wish you a great day.