Don’t Trip Up a Home Sale: Take Steps to Ensure a Smooth Inspection

If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, you may as well think ahead – because eventually the house will be sold and there will be an inspection contingency.  The following items are especially common in homes built more than 10 or 15 years ago.

You can opt to have a professional pre-home inspection – that will require that any items found be disclosed.  That can be good or bad.  Or, you can take this list and do your own thorough walkthrough of your property and make some of these pre-emptive repairs.  Now is a good time to start thinking about your home as someone else’s house! Be as objective as you can.

1. Improperly ventilated attics; sometimes “mold” or condensation is evident
2. Bathroom exhaust fans ventilated into attics
3. Windows: broken window seals, windows that don’t open, windows that don’t stay open
4. Furnace: have your furnace or boiler cleaned and serviced prior to listing the house
5. Central air: during cooler months a central a/c unit can not be run. A buyer may request that money be held in escrow until such time that the system can be tested.  Alternatively, a buyer may request records that the unit has been serviced.  The compressor should be level, on a concrete slab and away from the house
6. GFI outlets: in older homes these outlets aren’t always present. Current code requires that these be present in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms
7. Other electric issues: reversed polarity; issues with the electric box outside – often weather related
8. Be prepared to present the permits for any work that has been done; the buyer is going to ask for them
9. Look for any possible sources of water issues such as loose tiles in the shower, loose toilets, clogged gutters or missing gutter helmets
10. Doors from the garage to the living area should be fire-rated
11. Radon – radon levels must be less than 4.0 picocuries. Buyers will have this tested; if it is over 4.0, you have an obligation to remediate.
12. Termites and other wood destroying insects. Buyers will inspect for these pests and any associated damage.  If present, you have an obligation to remediate and repair any existing damage especially if it is structural

While you are doing your walkthrough, there are some other things to consider as well– both from a safety perspective and from that of a potential buyer’s first impression.  You might want to repair the following items if present:

1. Holes and cracks in the driveway and/or walkway
2. Loose floor boards inside or on decks
3. Broken interior or exterior steps or handrails
4. Electrical cords, rugs or furniture that can present a tripping hazard
5. Low ceilings or step-downs

Finally, carbon monoxide detectors are required on every level where there is a bedroom.  Smoke detectors are required on every level including the basement and a fire extinguisher must be mounted in the kitchen (must be to township standards).