Below is a pre-inspection checklist for those of you who may be selling your home and about to have the buyers inspector come to inspect it. This checklist is of items that may be listed in the report or may cause issues keeping the inspector from properly inspecting the property in turn delaying the sale of your house. As an inspector myself I will be honest, I don’t particularly enjoy writing up small things like this as they are general maintenance items that should be done regularly by the home owner. Adding these issues in the report can clutter it and make the report longer therefore, in some cases, overwhelming the buyer who may see all these issues as bad or a deal killer. Going through and completing this checklist before the buyers inspection will help rid the inspection report of a lot of small issues.

• Clean gutters.
• Add extensions to gutter downspouts so they discharge at least 5ft away from house.
• Trim trees and vegetation back away from the home.
• Seal cracks in walkways, driveways, patios etc.
• Caulk around exterior windows, doors, penetrations where needed.
• Paint areas with deteriorating paint or any areas with exposed wood.
• Change any light bulbs in the house that may be out.
• Tighten down any cabinet handles or door handles that are loose.
• Ensure attic, crawlspace, and basement access in unobstructed and accessible.
• Check for bird nests, wasp nests, etc. and get them removed.
• Replace furnace air filter with a new one.
• Clean area wells, window wells, and storm drains.
• Clean exterior A/C condenser fins of any debris.
• Ensure exterior A/C unit is level.
• Replace worn insulation around exterior A/C refrigerant line.
• Ensure there is a smoke detector in each bedroom and on each floor.
• Ensure there is a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.
• Ensure each smoke/co detectors have new batteries.
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust vent.
• Ensure at least 3ft of working clearance around the electrical panel.
• Clean any moss or algae off of various surfaces around the house.
• Move soil away from contact with any wood around the house.
• Seal any exposed nail heads on the roof with a proper roof sealant.
• Replace any worn or missing weatherstripping around exterior doors.
• Ensure all outlets and receptacles have covers on them.
• Ensure sink drain stoppers are properly connected under the sinks.

Click to download the checklist PDF sheet. 

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