If you’re selling your home, a realtor in Springfield, MO can help you get ready for that inspection.

A few weeks ago, we wrote a blog for sellers detailing all the things an inspector will look for during a home inspection. Today, we’re going to give you some specific suggestions for things you can do to prepare.

Whether you’re currently selling your home, are planning to in the future, or are just curious about the home selling process, here are some tips from a realtor in Springfield, MO on how to get ready for your home inspection.

General Maintenance

Much of preparing for a home inspection is just general home maintenance. Your realtor in Springfield, MO has most likely been a part of many inspections that could have gone much better with just a little bit of elbow grease. If you regularly stay on top of your home’s maintenance, it shouldn’t be too much extra work to prepare for your inspection. On the other hand, if you’ve let it slide by the wayside, you may need to plan on spending a weekend getting some work done around the house.

To begin preparing for your inspection, you should make sure your landscaping is up to par. Make sure the grass is neatly cut to an appropriate length and remove any stray tree branches and brush. Get rid of extra mulch and soil that is creeping up against the siding of your home. If you are selling your Springfield, MO real estate in the fall, make sure you rake your front and backyard to get rid of leaves that have accumulated on your property.

Next, make sure the interior of your home is sparkly clean, including less frequently cleaned areas like baseboards, vents, ceiling fan blades, etc. You will also want to double check all your lighting fixtures and replace any burned out bulbs. You don’t want an inspector to spend valuable time investigating a bulb to determine if the lighting fixture is working properly.

Appliances, Fixtures and Utilities

If you’re selling your home, both the inspector and buyer will want to know that all the home’s appliances, fixtures and utilities are in working order before the sale is closed. Prior to your inspection, test and clean all the lighting fixtures, water fixtures and appliances in your home. This includes your:

Washer and dryer
Stovetop
Oven
Microwave
Refrigerator
Water heater
HVAC system
Bathroom fixtures
Kitchen fixtures
All interior and exterior lighting fixtures

You should also double check your vents to make sure they’re working and clear away any blockages before the inspection.

If you find any leaky fixtures in your home, it would be wise to fix the leak (or replace the fixture) and replace caulk as necessary. Your realtor in Springfield, MO will also recommend that you clear out areas all beneath your sinks and make sure they are free of clutter so the inspector can easily access the piping.

Exterior Touch Ups

There are several things you can do to prep the exterior of your home for an inspection. Do a little inspection of your own and check your roof for major issues. Remove any debris from the top of your roofing and clean the leaves, branches and dirt out of your gutters.

Replace any rotted or damaged wood around the base of your foundation and if your exterior paint is badly chipped, you should consider repainting.

Lastly, clean and inspect your windows (from the outside and the inside) to make sure they are properly insulating your home and the opening and closing mechanisms are in working order.

Consult a Realtor in Springfield, MO

If you haven’t already enlisted the help of a realtor in Springfield, MO to sell your home, what are you waiting for? A realtor can help make sure you’re prepared for your home inspection, add your property into our system of real estate listings and make sure you get a fair closing offer on your sale. Contact Southwest Missouri Realty today to talk with an experienced realtor in Springfield, MO today.

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