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There are some things a seller can do BEFORE a home inspection
to help make sure things go smoothly. Here are some typical
recurring items found during a home inspection, which sellers
CAN address prior to inspection:
- Faucets & pipes: be sure there
are no leaks or drips
- Windows: replace cracked or broken
glass
- GFCI outlets: required within 6 ft of water inside;
and ALL exterior outlets must be GFCI
- Toilets: check for
leaks, cracks in porcelain
- Handyman wiring: often found
in outdoor lighting, be sure all wiring is in a junction
box
- A/C filters: dirty air filters affect performance,
so be sure to replace often; there should be a 20 degree
differential
between supply air and return air … inspector has
tools to measure that
- Pool, pool filters, pool lights:
check for cracks in plaster; no pipe leaks; gauges/lights
must work
- Roofs: replace missing shingles; reseal FLASHING
if needed. Do not let anyone walk on a tile roof!
- Doors – inside & out:
be sure they latch properly and if there is a lock, be
sure it works
PREPARE to pass inspection AND reduce stress over repair
negotiations!
A Home Inspection is intended to look for material defects,
flaws that may impact the decision to continue on with the
purchase of the home. Flaws that are considered material
defects and fall into 3 main categories:
Functionality … things that just don’t work:
i.e., a/c doesn’t cool, dishwasher doesn’t wash
Safety …. Things that could result in life threatening
situations if not fixed: Electrical wiring is not up to code,
no automatic closure on the pool gate
Livability … things that you literally could not live
with, until repaired: roof leaks, windows missing
After a Home Inspection, the buyer should request repairs
to material defects, not cosmetic details that were observed
during the house search. Things like paint and carpeting
affect salability, but are not considered material defects,
if not perfect.
During the final walkthrough with Realtor, buyer confirms
items on repair request have been repaired home is materially
the same as when contract was negotiated.
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