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Recommended Tips on How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

From your inspection experts at Honor Services

Because Home Inspectors cannot and will not move personal belongings, proper preparation is critical to ensure the best possible inspection.  Honor Services does send a video to listing agents to share with their sellers on how to prepare for a home inspection.  However, for various reasons sometimes a home is not prepared.

We recommend speaking with your professional Realtor® to ensure they have confirmed with the listing agent that the home is ready for inspection.  Specifically, confirmation of the following should be obtained:

Get This Checklist As A PDF Download Here
  • The inspector should have unimpeded access to not only to the main structure, but also any additional structures to be inspected such as sheds, detached garages or roofs that need keys to be accessed.  If the structure has a crawl space, access should be freely accessible as the inspector will not be able to remove any access panels on site.  If the crawl space has been used for storage, items should be removed to ensure the inspector can see structural blocks and tie downs.
  • HVAC equipment, electric service panels, and water heaters, should be easily accessible.  Oftentimes,  these items are located in garage spaces and behind several boxes, fishing poles, or other personal storage.
  • All attic access points/ladders  should be readily accessible.  This could involve moving shelving, vehicles in garages or screwed shut access panels that should be removed before the time of the inspection.
  • Locks to fences should be removed for easy foot access around the structure
  • All utilities should be on including water, electricity and gas.  Valves and Breakers should also be on for all functioning fixtures and appliances
  • Pets can remain on the property.  However, pets that have a tendency to “escape” or are not friendly to strangers, should be removed for the duration of the inspection to ensure their safety and that of the inspectors.
  • We recommend replacing burned-out bulbs to avoid a “light did not operate” statement in the report that could suggest an electrical problem.
  • We recommend removing stored items, debris and wood from the foundation. These could  be cited as conditions conducive to wood-destroying insects.
  • If the home had aluminum wiring the seller should be prepared to provide a letter to prove that proper remediation has occurred.  This letter should include:  The electrician’s company name and contact information, license number, remediation method (rewire or alumiconn connectors), the address of the property and the electrician’s signature.
  • If the seller states the home has shutters or will qualify for shutter credit, all documentation regarding impact rated windows, doors, garage doors or shutters should be readily available.  This will ensure the inspector can properly complete your wind mitigation inspection. (FL Form 1802)
  • Additionally, sellers may want to attend to broken or missing items such as doorknobs, locks and latches, window panes, screens and locks, and gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

"We're about to close on a home in Viera Fl & were recommended by several people to use Honor Services. John & team conducted a thorough inspection & provided us, the buyer with a heavily detailed report which included photos along with Honor Servies" recomendations on addressing the few minor issues they discovered. We're so pleased with Honor Services' expert work! They are a 1st class home inspection company."

Frank Antonucci

"I used Honor Services to do a home inspection on a property I was looking to purchase. They were thorough, professional, and punctual. I will always use them. They also did all three inspections (home inspection, wind mitigation, and WDO), which made it convenient and the cost was competitive. I will undeniably use them again, and I completely recommend them to everyone."

Ian Batchelor

"We had water coming in through the house that left mold on the carpet. We called Honor Services and Michelle sent John out right away! John and Michelle are professional, caring and honest people. He didn't try to sell us on anything and told us the best and easiest way to fix the issue. Will use again and again and highly recommend to anyone!"

Kara Turey

"Very impressed with them. I am a retired home inspector from Indiana. They were never informed of this. I observed closely at everything they check and never had to ask for anything else. They checked everything and were very thorough. They gave information on everything. I would recommend to family and friends."

Gail Brown
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