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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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