Sellers: Get Your Home Inspected Quicker by following these 12 Tips

Got your house sold? Well, almost.

When it's time for your home to be inspected, here are some ways to make your home inspection go more smoothly, and possibly alleviate some concerns up front which may delay the closing process.

1. Make sure that your utilies are all on (water, electric, gas if applicable).
2. If using a gas furnace, heater or stove, confirm that your pilot lights are on and functioning correctly.
3. If you have pets, remove them from the premises on the day of inspection, or secure them outside so they do not hinder the inspector from doing his or her job. Be sure to tell your agent or your inspector about any pets at home.
4. Check and replace any burned out light bulbs before the inspection. This is avoid a possible "Light is inoperable" comment on your report that may suggest a more serious electrical problem.
5. Test your smoke detectors and CO2 monitors; replace dead batteries.
6. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely.
7. Remove stored items, debris and wood from the foundation areas, as these can be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites.
8. Remove any items which block access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.
9. Unlock any areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.
10. Trim tree limbs from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow the inspector access to where he or she needs to inspect.
11. Do a preliminary check of your house and attend to any missing or broken items that can easily be replaced/fixed. This may include items like latches, locks, doorknobs, windows, screens, gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.
12. The house doesn't have to be spotless, but make sure it's reasonably clean and uncluttered the day of the inspection. Impressions count, and the photos taken during the inspection may be included in the final report, so why not put your home's best foot forward on the day of the inspection?

    Checking these areas before your home inspection will help you to sell your property more quickly, and can make a difference to your bottom line.
    
    

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