A home inspection is the examination of your property’s interior and exterior condition performed before closing. An inspection is an important part of buying a home because the home inspector will verify that your home is in good condition and report any potential problems to the buyer. If you are selling a home, you can make the process easier by following these 10 steps to ensure your home is inspected properly:

1. Power, gas, water and other utilities in the home should be turned on.


2. If your home has an alarm system, make sure it is set to OFF unless your home inspector requests otherwise.


3. Provide keys and codes to the home inspector for all doors, gates, garages and other entryways.


4. The inspector will test radiators and other heating elements by turning them on. Make sure all furniture and other obstructions are out of the way.


5. Clear the area around the water heater to give easy access to the home inspector.


6. Trim any bushes or plants that are near outdoor water faucets and air conditioning units.


7. Install new batteries in the smoke detectors and replace any burned-out light bulbs in the house.


8. Make sure the inspector can access any doors to attics, crawl spaces and basements. Remove any excess items so the inspector can move freely.


9. The inspector will want to test each electrical outlet in the home. Move any furniture or other items that may be obstructing these.


10. If the home has a wood-burning fireplace, remove any logs that may be inside.

Selling a home to move into a new home is an extremely exciting time. If I can suggest the name of an excellent real estate agent to help you list your home, please let me know. I am happy to talk with you about your new home purchase and whether you will need to sell your current home before you can qualify for your new loan.