Your Orlando / Central
Florida home is under contract. Now you get to wait (and possibly worry) until
the home inspection and appraisal are complete.
Are you ready for that
home inspection? If you’re like most homeowners, the answer
could be “No.”
Even if your home is
sparkling clean, it may not offer access to everything the home inspector needs
to see. Since home inspectors do NOT move furnishings or go in search of
access, that could result in an inspection report with items listed as “not
tested” or “unable to access/not inspected.”
Then what? The buyers
could disappear, or you could be asked to pay for a second inspection, since
you did not provide sufficient access. Neither is an attractive option.
Common trouble spot are
access to the attic and crawl space. Attic access may be hidden in a closet or located in a garage
above a storage space where access is impossible until stored items are moved.
The crawl space access
might be beneath stairs or under carpet. It could even be under a dresser or a
washing machine. It could also be outside the house, via a door in the
foundation.
If the inspector doesn’t
know where to find these access spots, or if they are blocked by furniture,
boxes, etc. they won’t be inspected. And, as you might assume, attics and crawl
spaces can be the source of problems ranging from mold, to termites, to water
damage, to structural problems. The inspector needs to see them.
So be sure to let the
inspector know where to find access, then remove all obstacles to getting
there.
Access is just the
beginning. If the crawl space or attic is crammed full of stored items, the
inspector still might not be able to do a complete job, so be sure to remove
excess “stuff” before the inspection.
Next, move any furniture
or obstruction away from radiators,
heating elements, heating vents, air conditioning vents, water heaters, breaker
boxes, electrical panels, and electrical outlets. (Yes, he or she will test
each outlet.) Replace all burned out light bulbs so the inspector can see that
those fixtures are in working order.
Now get to work on the
kitchen and bathrooms.
You might want to bring in some sturdy boxes, for this, because you need to
remove everything from under the sinks and the top of toilet tank lids.
Empty the fireplace of
everything but faux gas logs. Empty the dishwasher. If the kitchen range and/or the washer and
dryer are staying, empty them as well.
Trim shrubbery and other plants away from hose bibs, dryer
vents, the air conditioner, and outdoor lighting and electrical outlets.
Move all vehicles out of
the garage.
Have all keys and codes
available so the inspector will
have easy access to the entire house – inside and out.
Before you leave your Orlando
/ Central Florida home for the inspection:
- Turn off your computer. The inspector may be turning power on and off, and
that could cause data loss or damage.
- Put
your pets in the car with you, or in kennel cages.
If you’ve already moved
out:
Be sure that the
utilities are turned on and pilot lights are burning.
If your appliances use
propane or fuel oil, be sure there is enough in the tanks to keep things
running during the inspection.
A bonus for you: Since you’ll be moving soon, look at the things
you’ve moved for the inspection with an eye toward putting them in storage or
packing them in boxes for the move right now. You’ll be one small step ahead
when it comes time for the move.
