Home Inspections: Seven Things Sellers Can Do to Make It Go Smoothly
By Elaine McCall, the Seward Group
Alexandria, VA – For home sellers, the home inspection can look like a scene from HGTV. Strangers arrive at your door and look at every nook and cranny of your space. They open closets, turn on every faucet in the house, flush toilets, open electrical panels, turn on your oven, and run your washer, dryer, and other appliances. Then they climb your roof and wander through your yard, basement, or crawlspace.
The home inspection can be nerve-wracking for sellers. It is the part of the process where most deals can fall apart. Sellers would be smart to consider a pre-home sale home inspection, allowing them to fix any issues and eliminate surprises during the home inspection process.
Here are some tips from BPG Inspections, a local home inspection company, that may help!
- On inspection day, the home should be empty of the owners. This gives the buyer time to get acquainted with the property.
- Pets should be removed from the house.
- If something isn’t working properly, don’t try to hide it because inspectors will find it. Hiding something may raise questions that will cause concern for the buyer and impact the sale. Simply leave a note indicating you know the item is broken.
- Replace blown lightbulbs in all parts of the home.
- Test all smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly.
- Make sure your oven and stovetop are clean so they can be tested without setting off the smoke alarm.
- Have clear access to the electrical panel, water heater, attic, crawlspaces, heating systems, garage, garage GFCIs, and other areas that must be inspected.
The Seward Group has guided all our sellers with their home inspections. Our team will assist you with every step of the home-selling process. We would be honored to help you, a family member, or a friend with your real estate needs.
This article was written by The Seward Group at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. The Seward Group offers full-spectrum concierge real estate services at all price points. Email: [email protected], Visit seward-group.com, or Call (703) 298-0562.
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