One of the greatest fears of a homeowner who is trying to sell their house is a poor inspection
report that will turn the buyer away. There is no pass or fail. All homes, even new ones,
have faults. Here are some tips on changing some easily avoided - but common - problems.
- Check for faulty wiring. A common mistake is using a lamp cord or
an extention cord for permanent wiring. This is a fire hazard! Also, junction boxes
should be covered at all times. Many electrical problems originate at connections, which is
why they should be contained in a fire-proof box and sealed with the cover on.
- Make sure not to block ventilation in your attic with blow-in insulation. Speaking of
attics, make sure your bathroom exhaust fan is not vented directly into your attic. It should
have a vent hose that directs the air outside your home.
- Moisture is the #1 enemy of all homes. Now that you have removed the moisture from your
attic, how about the sides of your house? If you have plants growing against your house, trim them
back. Clean your gutters out. Make sure your down spouts are tight and diverting the water away from your home.
- Missing covers on outlets and switches are a shock hazard and should be replaced.
- Change your light bulbs. This is easy to do, but once it shows up on your report, it's
just one more thing for your prospective buyer to look at.
- Don't throw out that tag your furnace repairman gave you. It should be up to date and
clearly visible - preferably attached to the furnace itself.
- Make sure your windows can be easily opened. If it requires any more than a normal effort
it will be marked as "stuck." (Fred lifts like an 8-year-old girl.)
- Do your doors latch? It's a simple adjustment if they don't close all the way.
- Are there water stains on your ceiling from an old leak? If it has been repaired, then paint
over the old stain or replace the ceiling tile.
- Sink stoppers are a minor problem but they show up on the report if they don't work. It's a
two-minute fix and relatively easy, but you do have to poke your head under the sink to figure
it out.
- It goes without saying that you should change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors, and they should be tested regularly.
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