Thursday, November 15, 2012

Your Brantford/Brant County Home’s Pre-Inspection Checklist!

The home inspection is one of the most anxiety-provoking aspects of a real estate transaction, particularly from the seller’s perspective. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, I do everything that I can to ease my clients’ worries about this particular step in the process by preparing them for the inspection itself.

There are a number of things that you need to remember to do in order to prepare your home for inspection. None of these items are steps to be taken lightly. A poor home inspection can result in a decrease in the amount buyers are willing to offer. You could also run into issues during negotiations if certain things aren’t taken care of prior to inspection, as buyers will have more leeway and cause for concern. That’s why I’ve come up with this quick pre-inspection checklist. If you take care of these important steps before the inspector arrives, then there will be less of a chance for problems after they leave.

•    Make sure all utilities are turned on and functional. If you’re already living in the Brantford/Brant County property you’re trying to sell, then this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re selling it after you’ve moved out, then make sure you take care of this early-on.
•    If there is natural gas or propane service, then all pilot lights should be lit.
•    All wood-burning stoves and fireplaces should be cleaned. Please don’t use any of these appliances 24 hours before inspection. Appliance manuals and WETT Certificates should be handy, if they are available to you.
•    Make sure your attic is readily accessible. All stored items should be removed so the inspector can move about the space.
•    All crawl entrance spaces should be readily accessible.
•    Furnace and water heaters should be accessible and operational.
•    Sinks should be clear of all dishes.
•    Showers and bathrooms should be clear of all personal items.
•    Built-in appliances are operational and user manuals are readily available.
•    Do not lock or block electrical panels. The inspector will remove the cover and examine the system, so the more clearly accessible those are, the better.
•    Have a site plan identifying where your well and septic field are located, if you have a well or septic tank. Find out when the tank was last pumped and how old the various components are, too.
•    All areas of the home should be accessible and vacant. Don’t have any locked doors or closed off areas throughout the property. The inspector needs to be able to access every square inch of your home.
•    If you have pets, make sure they are either secured in cages or removed from the property.
•    Building permits and receipts for repairs and improvements on the home should be readily available.
•    Schedule at least three hours for your home inspection.

If you take the steps listed above to prepare your home for inspection, then there’s a much better likelihood that you’ll pass. A smooth inspection can make your Brantford/Brant County Real Estate transaction proceed in a timely fashion. As your local real estate professional, my main concern is guiding you through a stress-free transaction. The best defense is a good offense, so before you face that dreaded home inspection, take the steps to make your home as perfect as possible.

If you have any questions about what you need to do to prepare your home for sale in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m happy to help!


 Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 



No comments:

Post a Comment