6 Ways To Facilitate Home Inspections

As a buyer or a seller, home inspections can cause anxiety and unnecessary stress. Here are 6 ways to facilitate home inspections and create a positive atmosphere around this important step in a real estate transaction. ¹

1. I love animals, and usually they love me. However, there are rare occasions where a dog presents as aggressive, or a cat wants to chase me into the crawlspace. This can lead to significant delays. Assume the owner of the pet is not going to be present. In that case, it is highly recommended the animal(s) stay with their humans or be secured in a way that doesn’t inhibit the inspector’s access to the interior or exterior of the home.
2. Utilities, (power, water, gas, and pilot lights), are one the most important inspection components. If they are not on an inspector can’t honestly say that a complete inspection has been performed. It is also urged, or should be required that the utilities be on for at least 24 hours. Like it or not, this allows faults to show themselves. Some water leaks are so slow that they may not be easily spotted if not given sufficient time. If the inspector deems the inspection incomplete, they reserve the right to charge an additional fee for returning to finish it. Turning these services on are also outside of the inspector’s scope due to possible safety issues and potential property damage.
3. Most inspectors that exceed the standards remove the electrical panel and expose the wiring inside. This is usually not required but is always a good idea. This is one of the few places the wiring can be visible and critical safety hazards can be documented. If the clearance around the panel doesn’t meet or exceed 30″ all the way around, this can present an electrical hazard to the inspector who removes the panel covers when possible.
4. Attic and crawlspace access is imperative. Again, an inspection cannot be considered complete without access to these areas that are seldom inspected or accessed. Remove any personal belongings and verify that the hatch doors are operational and able to be opened. If there is an attic access in the garage, move storage and vehicles to allow access.
5. Test your smoke and CO detectors. Ensure they are less than 10 years old from their manufacture date, have working batteries, and are present where required. In Oregon, a home newer than 2011 must have CO and smoke detectors, regardless of whether a CO source exists or not. The Oregon State Fire Marshall provides installation details and other requirements.
   
6. Have a licensed and bonded HVAC technician service and inspect the furnace and air conditioner including changing out the air filter.

Along with the common tips listed above, you may also consider a seller’s pre-inspection which allows the seller to disclose or repair any known issues, and supplying receipts and other documentation to support repairs done before. Presenting a well-maintained home to not only the home inspector but also to the buyer fosters a confident and smooth transaction which in turn creates a positive experience and removes most of the stress and anxiety.

6 Ways To Facilitate Home Inspections

1. This article was inspired by “Ten Tips to Speed Up Your Home Inspection” provided by InterNACHI. ↩︎