How to Prepare Your Occupied Home for an inspection

The purchase of a home is one of the biggest investments. It is important to have it inspected to have everything you need to make an informed decision. To achieve this, the inspector will need to have access to every part of the home. If you are listing a home, or are getting ready to have a 1 year warranty inspection on a new build, this article might help. It will allow the inspector (s), and any other specialized technicians, to reach every area they need to inspect, and also prevent any accidental damage to your belongings.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare your occupied home for the inspection and make the most out of this opportunity.

1. Make a List of Known Issues

As the homeowner, you’ve probably noticed a few things around the house that might need attention. Now is the perfect time to create a list of known issues that might be covered under the warranty. Common issues to look for include:
• Leaks: Check for water leaks around faucets, pipes, and under sinks.
• Electrical Problems: Flickering lights, tripped circuits, or outlets that don’t work could be covered.
• HVAC Issues: Are there any temperature inconsistencies, strange noises, or poor air circulation?
• Plumbing Problems: Slow drains, clogged pipes, or inconsistent water pressure might be covered.
• Exterior issues: Roof leaks, cracks in the foundation, and problems with windows or doors can all fall under the warranty.

Document these problems and provide clear descriptions. Your inspector will observe, test and report these items, but there might be some that could be outside of their Standards of Practice that could not be found on their own.

Funny example, a family had a coffee pot plugged into the living room outlet, behind a heavy cabinet. They explained the outlet tripped when they used the coffee pot at the same time as the microwave.
Another example we have come across is, the second bedroom lights flickered when someone poured ice out of the fridge door.

These are conditions that Inspectors are not able to create, but homeowners live with them every day, and need to be documented. 

During the inspection, the inspector will need to access various parts of your home, including:

• Attic: Ensure that the attic is clear of clutter and accessible. Remove any items blocking access.
• Basement or Crawl Space: Make sure these areas are not obstructed and are safe for the inspector to enter.
• HVAC units and Water Heaters: Clear any obstacles around HVAC systems, furnaces, and water heaters so the inspector can check these areas.
• Utility Rooms: Ensure that areas where plumbing or electrical systems are located are tidy and easily accessible.
• Bathrooms: Keep as few stored items as possible under the sink, to allow easy observation for any leaks.
• Bedrooms: Remove any large furniture, equipment or toys that may block windows and closets. Inspectors would prefer not to climb on any beds or couches.

Make sure to notify family members and roommates about these requirements so the inspection can proceed without delays.

Your 1 year home warranty may also cover certain appliances, such as dishwashers, refrigerators, or washing machines. If you are listing a home, test your appliances to ensure they are functioning correctly.  Some Standards of Practice do not include certain appliances, or the homeowner is planning on removing them when they move out. In some instances, the homeowner already knows something is not working and have asked us not to turn it on, to prevent leakage and damage. If the homeowner will not be present, a quick note to let us know not to test something in particular will be helpful, and help prevent damage.

4. Clean and Maintain Your Home

A well-maintained and clean home will make the inspection process smoother. While the inspector is not looking for cleanliness, a clutter-free environment allows for better access to areas that need to be inspected.

Take the time to:

• Vacuum and dust: Clean floors and surfaces so the inspector can clearly see any issues with flooring, walls, or ceilings.
• Trim trees and shrubs: If the inspector needs to evaluate the roof or exterior of your home, trim any foliage that may block access.

Check seals and caulk: Inspect door and window seals to ensure there are no gaps or cracks that could lead to water damage. Inspector will still look for adequate seals.

5. Address Minor Repairs

It is helpful to attend to small repairs beforehand when possible, that will make the inspection process more efficient, and avoid write ups that are simple to fix. For example:

• Tighten loose screws on door handles or cabinet knobs.
• Repair any broken light bulbs or non-working outlets.
• Fix any door latches or locks that are malfunctioning.

Although these issues may not be covered by the warranty in a new build, they show that you are proactive in maintaining the home on an older home’s listing.

6. Prepare for the Inspection Day

On the day of the inspection, ensure that you or someone else is available to accompany the inspector and answer any questions. This also allows you to point out any specific concerns you have. Here’s what you should do:

• Be present or designate someone: The homeowner should be present during the inspection if possible, so they can ask questions or clarify any doubts. If you can’t be there, designate a responsible person who can.
• Be organized: Have your home warranty agreement, your list of issues, and any necessary documentation ready to present to the inspector.
• Provide clear access: Ensure that pets and children are out of the way to allow the inspector to move freely throughout the home, and prevent children from playing around inspector’s tools and ladder.
• Open all blinds or curtains, and move big furniture away from windows. This will help the inspector have better access to observe and test, and avoid mishaps or damaging your belongings while moving them him or herself.
• Beware of some specific tests. The inspector will test exterior, and interior Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). They may reset in the garage, bathrooms, and laundry room. Please make sure access to the resetting outlets is readily accessible. Also be aware that testing the GFCI in the laundry room of a new build home may mean the internet service could be interrupted for a few minutes. Let your inspector know if you prefer not to have it tested if any online work, or meetings are in progress during the inspection. On some older homes, a GFCI may not reset as it should, which may leave one or several outlets without power until it is repaired or replaced. This is not the fault of the inspector, as this item may fail during testing which is a condition that must be found by the inspection and reported as a defect.
• Let us know about footwear. If you prefer inspector wears clean shoe covers, please let us know ahead of time. Inspectors will be entering the attic, going back and forth between garage, electrical panel, back patio, exterior and interior areas as we test the different systems, and must wear shoes at all times to protect their feet.

7. After the Inspection

Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will provide a report to the client outlining any issues they discovered. The client must review this report carefully and use it to have some, or all of the items addressed by the appropriate parties. Keep in mind that while the inspection is an opportunity to identify problems, the warranty provider (or seller) might only cover issues that fall under the terms of the warranty, or the major items that a buyer may request. These decisions are outside of the inspector’s control.

The inspector is a non-biased 3^rd party. The findings will be symptoms of a possible problem, but he or she will not be able to advise on whether a buyer should or should not buy a home. But in all instances, an inspector will be able to advise if the opinion of a specialist in a certain system is required for further evaluation. In the case of a 1-year warranty, the inspector may advise on where a homeowner could get help if warranty items are not addressed by the builder. This will depend on what state the home is located.

Conclusion

Thank you for trusting us with your home inspection! We look forward to giving you the most thorough report, and having your home prepared ahead of time will ensure we can accomplish our goal.