The home inspection is one of the biggest hurdles on your path from contract to close. If the condition of the property is not up to the buyers’ expectations, you could be asked to make expensive repairs, or your buyers could even potentially back out of the deal.
So how do you pass your home inspection? We’ve got three tips to help!
How Do You Pass a Home Inspection?
First, a note of clarification. You can’t actually fail a home inspection. An inspection isn’t pass or fail; it’s simply a report of the property's condition. When people say a home passed inspection, they simply mean that the buyers decided to proceed with the purchase as planned after reviewing the inspection report.
So the real question is how do you prepare your home to perform well on the home inspection? And here are three ways to do just that.
1. Consider Getting a Pre-Inspection
If you’re not sure how well your plumbing, electrical, and heating systems will hold up during the inspection, you may want to get an inspection done before you even list your house for sale. This will bring potential issues to your attention so you can address them before listing. You might be able to make repairs, or you might choose to set the price lower or offer a credit so the buyers can make the repairs themselves. Either way, you’ll know what to expect so you can plan accordingly.
Some sellers are concerned that they’ll need to disclose potential issues found in the pre-inspection to buyers. And this is true; you generally need to disclose any potential defects you’re aware of. But these issues would have come out in the buyer’s inspection anyway. And if the buyers are aware of issues even before completing their inspection, they might be less likely to panic and try to rescind their offer.
Having said that, talk to your listing agent before getting the pre-inspection. In a competitive seller’s market where buyers are waiving their right to an inspection, you may be better off without a pre-inspection.
2. Fix All Visible Problems Before Making the Property Available to the Inspector
Common home maintenance issues like clogged drains, burnt-out lightbulbs, and loose handrails can all generally be fixed quickly and easily. So go ahead and take care of those minor repairs before listing your home. This will give the inspector fewer problems to note in their report. And when prospective buyers see that the home is well-maintained, they will feel better about making an offer!
It’s also important to make sure the home inspector has full access to the property so they can compile a complete report for the buyers. Make sure the inspector can get into the house and into areas like attics, basements, garages, and outbuildings. And don’t forget to keep your pets out of the way by crating them or taking them out with you during the appointment.
3. Find Your Permits, Invoices, and Warranties
If you have completed any substantial renovation projects on the property, make sure your permits are available to the home inspector. This will avoid potential red flags on the inspection report where the inspector has to state that the work might not be permitted. And it will avoid potential delays in having the inspector or the buyers research permits at your local permit office.
If you skipped the proper channels for getting permits when you completed the work, simply be upfront about that. The buyers may be willing to accept the liability of unpermitted work. Or they might choose to retroactively get the permits for the work. It is entirely possible to sell a home with unpermitted work.
Similarly, if you have invoices and warrantees for upgrades made to the home, this can help the inspector make positive notes on the inspection report in confidence.
We’re Here to Help!
The home inspection is just one small piece of the complex selling process. And the knowledgeable real estate agents at Sequoia Real Estate have the experience to professionally represent your interest throughout the entire process.
Our seller services include strategizing, promoting your listing, and negotiating the best price and the best terms for you!
We proudly offer no-cost, no-pressure consultations for home sellers. We can give you a home value estimate, explain the selling process, and answer all your questions about current market conditions. Contact us to schedule your private consultation today!