Passing Home Inspections

Brittany Barnes
May 16, 2015
2 min read

Greetings Houstonians!

Let's take a minute to thank baby Jesus for our BEAUTIFUL-SUNNY day today! (woo-hooo!) It's been quite muddy out the past couple of weeks...my goodness!

Anyways.....on to Real Estate....

Know the two biggest hurdles in a real estate transaction? Inspections & Appraisals.

OHHHHH, how I love the. (not.)

First and foremost, (SELLERS) I must warn you that some home inspectors are picky...and I mean PICKY. In all the years that I’ve been in real estate, I’ve never come across a completely clean report…even on BRAND NEW homes. With that being said, PLEASE don’t take it personal if the inspector mentions on his report that the “Start” button on your microwave sticks at various times – it’s just their job.

Take a look at some of the most common items found on inspection reports in the Houston area. Would your home pass inspection??

•ALL utilities are ON

•Door Bell Chime Rings Properly

•Fix clogged or slow draining sinks/tubs

•Fix drippy/leaky faucets and showerheads

•Replace all light bulbs throughout the house

•Replace batteries in Smoke Alarms (no chirping!)

•Roofing shingles and material are in good condition

•Tighten door hinges and knobs to open/close properly

•Confirm appliances are clean and in good working order

•Water Heater is the adequate size and is up to current code

•Attic is completely accessible with pull down ladder and open walk way

•Light switches/GFCI outlets operate properly and cover plates are installed

•Gutters are cleared of debris and downspouts are facing away from the home

•Foundation issues are corrected and signs of problems are fixed (repair cracking/paint)

•Heating and Cooling systems are operating properly and Thermostats have new batteries

•Electrical Wiring is connected safely through out the home and electrical box is labeled correctly

I hope this helps smooth out some potential kinks that you could run into during the inspection process. And remember, think like a buyer - act like a seller!

Until next time...