Home Inspection Tips for Buyers and Sellers

Many will think that home inspection is not essential while buying a house but it is not so. A home inspection is important for your family’s safety as all the components, systems, structure, appliances & installations are inspected thoroughly to ascertain they are working properly. By having a home inspection you will make sure that the house is safe your family to live in and you are paying the right price for the house.

Pre-requisites for Home Inspection

At the time a NACHI certified home inspector goes to the house for a home inspection you need to make sure that the seller provides him proper access from where he can inspect every area of the house. You need to ask the seller to remove storage containers away from wall to make it easy for the home inspector to check. In case he is not able to view any particular section of the house then he should indicate it in his report.

Broad Categorization of House Defects

Most of the problems that are looked at during a home inspection can be broadly categorized into following:

1. Tracing major defects such as some type of structural failure.


2. Things which can cause major problems in future such as minor roof flashing leakage.


3. Problems in the house which can create hindrance in financing the house, insure or occupy it.


4. Safety related problems like electric panel with buss bar which is exposed.

Home Inspection Tips for Sellers

A seller can expedite the home inspection process if he follows the under mentioned tips. If these suggestions are followed then it will result in smoother inspection and less number of concerns to solve before the closing.

1. Check that electric, gas & water services are running. Additionally, make sure that gas pilot lights are properly burning.


2. Avoid getting light inoperable report by changing burned out electrical items such as bulbs.


3. Get rid of dead batteries so that they do not create problems during smoke tests and carbon monoxide detection.


4. Check that air filters (HVAC) fit in properly.


5. Clean out wood, stored items & debris kept near the foundation as home inspector may term it as ideal location for growth of termites.


6. Clear the path leading to water heaters, HVAC equipment, electrical panels, crawl spaces, closets & attics so that these can be inspected properly.


7. Check and repair broken things such as latches, door knobs, screens, window panes, chimney caps & downspouts.

As mentioned above the major defects categorization & tips for sellers on how they can make the house ready before the inspector comes to the house will greatly assist buyers and sellers in evaluating problems in the house and take remedial steps to solve these problems.