Selling your home can be a complex journey, and a significant part of the process involves preparing for a home inspection. The inspection report can greatly impact the success of your sale, which is why many sellers consider opting for a pre-inspection even before potential buyers start touring their property.
You might wonder why you should invest in a pre-inspection when buyers typically foot the bill for their own professional inspection. After all, who wants to uncover issues like a leaky roof or an outdated electrical panel? The simple answer is: you do. A pre-inspection provides you with advanced knowledge of what a buyer is likely to discover, allowing you to proactively address necessary repairs and updates. While you may choose not to address all identified issues, your selling price may need to adjust accordingly. 
A comprehensive pre-inspection helps you avoid surprises during a buyer’s inspection. It equips you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about price negotiations. For instance, if you’re aware that your roof will require replacement in a few years but choose not to do it now, you can adjust your asking price accordingly. Knowledge is indeed power, and in this case, it’s essential for your bottom line.
What Do Home Inspectors Assess?
Home inspectors typically examine various aspects of your property, including:
- Appliances: They ensure that all appliances included with the home are in proper working order, such as the stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, garage door, and water heater.
- Systems: Inspectors scrutinize major home systems like electrical, gas, and heating and cooling to identify any issues.
- Structural Features: They assess the condition of critical components such as the roof, garage, attic, crawl space, siding, windows, and doors.
Preparing for a Home Inspection: A Seller’s DIY Checklist
You can take several steps on your own to ensure a smooth home inspection process. If any task seems beyond your DIY capabilities, consider seeking expert assistance. Here’s a checklist to guide you:
1. Clean and Declutter Inspection Access Points:
- Clean the furnace filter.
- Ensure the stove and oven are clean.
- Remove stored items from the attic.
- Organize closets that provide access to the attic or crawl space.
- Clear a 4 to 6-inch space around the exterior perimeter of your home.
2. Test Functionality of Items Checked by Home Inspectors: 
- Open and close windows, testing locks and seals.
- Flush all toilets and run all faucets.
- Operate ceiling and bathroom fans.
- Check all light switches.
- Manually open and close garage doors and test the remote, including the reverse safety setting.
- Verify the integrity of weather stripping on doors.
- Ensure proper diversion of water away from the home by checking downspouts.
- Confirm the connection of heating ducts in the crawl space.
- Ensure fan ducts are effectively venting out of the attic.
3. Basic Safety and Security Precautions:
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors.
- Test the carbon monoxide detector.
- Have a fire extinguisher readily available.
- Cap gas lines or chimney entry points.
- Address any pest issues, such as bugs or rodents.
4. Necessary Property Repairs:
- Replace light bulbs.
- Re-caulk around bathtubs and sinks.
- Repair any water damage in bathrooms.
- Clear drain clogs.
- Update dingy grout.
- Replace torn screens and cracked windows.
- Address any missing roofing.
- Replace damaged insulation in the attic and crawl space.
- Cover the crawl space with 6 mm plastic sheeting.
5. Exterior Home Improvements:
- Remove debris from the roof, or pressure wash if necessary.
- Trim trees that overhang or are close to the roofline.
- Clean out gutters.
- Clear debris from around the A/C compressor, downspout drainage, and foundation vents.
- Ensure soil slopes away from the home for proper water runoff.
6. Last-Minute Inspection Preparations:
- Plan to vacate your home at least an hour before the scheduled inspection.
- Take your pets with you.
- Leave remotes for the garage door, ceiling fans, lights, etc.
- Provide keys for gates, outbuildings, and electrical boxes.
- Turn on the pilot light for gas-fired appliances, including the water heater.
- Ensure all utilities are operational.
- Empty the washer and dryer.
- Clear dishes from the sink and dishwasher.
- Leave a diagram indicating the location of the well or septic tank.
- Provide paperwork related to maintenance, repairs, or insurance claims.
While completing a pre-inspection is optional, taking this proactive step can significantly improve your chances of a smooth closing process.