Preparing your home for its market debut can seem overwhelming, but making repairs or taking care of anything cosmetic that needs to be fixed is an important piece of the puzzle. And for those looking to sell, taking the time to prepare for an inspection is just as important—if not more so.
Whether your inspection is right around the corner—or a few months down the road—consider the following tips so that you and your home are prepared well before inspection day arrives.
- Remove clutter. Don’t make your inspector’s job any harder by neglecting to move items that may make it difficult to get to the basement, bathroom and even the far corners of the house. Not only will the inspector need to look at every room, he or she will also have to examine the walls, ceilings and floors, in addition to looking closely at the outside of the home. Make sure walkways are clear of any and all clutter so that your inspector can easily see everything he or she needs to see.
- Remember the attic. Your home inspector will also want to take a peek at the attic, so be sure there’s a walkable path for easy access. It’s also important to make sure the opening isn’t blocked by anything. And be sure to clean up any dust or cobwebs ahead of time.
- Turn utilities on. You don’t want to hold up the inspector, so make sure all the major components of the house are up and running. This includes the water, power and gas. If the house utilizes fuel oil, make sure there’s enough oil to fill the furnace so that there are no delays.
- Clear space to the fuse box. Electrical panels are an important part of any home inspection, and since they are often located in areas with limited access such as storage rooms or closets, visibility is often an issue. Therefore, it’s crucial that these spaces are easy to get to. It’s also a good idea to replace light bulbs in these areas so that there’s enough light to see clearly.
- Keep pets at bay. The last thing you want is an inspection to get off on the wrong foot because your pet jumped on the inspector upon his arrival, or started barking incessantly. Not everyone loves animals the way you might, and an aggressive pet can be problematic. When inspection day arrives, be sure to keep your pet confined to one room. Or, better yet, take your furry friend out for a walk or set up a playdate in advance.
- Make plans. While you may be inclined to tag along on the home inspection, the truth is, homeowners only get in the way of the process. And the inspector really doesn’t want you there. Instead, do something fun with your friends, go see a movie or take care of things that need to get done before moving day arrives.
Planning ahead will not only result in a smoother home inspection, but a happy outcome as well.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.
Debbie Woolard Group
(757) 288-0194
www.DebbieWoolard.com
Excellent Service – Excellent Results
Buyers Agent/Sellers Agent
Our focus is helping people find and exchange dream homes. We are seeking buyers and sellers that desire concierge level service including great communication, extraordinary representation and a continuing relationship for years to come.
You and your referrals will be provided with a great team of professionals to help with each step of the process. We are committed and passionate about negotiating the best possible terms and serving our clients at the highest level. Our goal is to create memorable real estate experiences where our clients become raving fans.
Our clients benefit by having a Certified Negotiation Expert on their side. This provides them with better results, a smoother process and greater satisfaction.
Whether a person is looking to buy or sell a starter home or a multi-million dollar estate, Debbie Woolard produces great results for her clients. She gives clients what they expect and deserve, an experienced realtor skilled in marketing and negotiations.
With Debbie Woolard, you will receive personal service as well as exceptional professionalism. She is well qualified for her work with her strong background of sales and marketing. Having been born here and continuously living in the area, she is familiar with the entire Hampton Roads region.
She has earned the professional designations of Certified Negotiation Expert, Certified Residential Specialist, and e-Pro. In addition she is also a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource with extensive training in short sales and foreclosures. This uniquely positions her to help those in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. It has also proven to be beneficial to the buyers that are seeking to purchase a short sale or foreclosure.
She is well qualified to help professionals, business owners, military personnel and other clients with their real estate needs. She has been selected to work with both the Military Team and Relocation Team. She is consistently producing outstanding results in real estate.
Her first year in real estate she was awarded Listing Rookie of the Year as well as Sales Rookie of the Year. Her sales and loyal following of satisfied clients have grown each year she has been in business. She is in the top 1% of the agents in the area based on sales volume. Her practice continues to flourish thanks to clients recommending her to friends, family members and business associates.
Her clients state that her actions and attitude are best described with the word “integrity”.
Realtors with the Debbie Woolard Group service Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News & Portsmouth with specialist in seller representation, buyer representation, military relocation, first time home buyers, short sales and real estate investment.