Top 10 Ways to Speed Your Home Inspection
1. Confirm gas, water and electricity are turned on and gas pilot lights are burning.
2. Ensure all pets are secure and won’t hinder inspection. Notify all persons involved about pets that are to be kept inside.
3. Replace all burned out light bulbs.
4. Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if needed.
5. Clean or replace all dirty HVAC air filters, and verify filters fit and are secured properly.
6. Move wood, stored items or debris away from foundation.
7. Unlock or remove locks from any items the inspector must access such as gates in fences, attic access hatches or doors, electric service panels, special closets, crawl space hatches or doors for pier-and-beam construction, bathtub bathtrap doors.
8. Confirm areas and components are accessible by removing items blocking access to: electric panels, heating and air conditioning equipment, water heaters, ground fault circuit interrupter receptacles (GFCI), attic access hatches or doors (Note: debris may fall when pull down door is opened), crawl space access hatches for pier-and-beam construction (Note: Remove all items that might restrict movement in attic or crawl space).
9. Trim tree limbs back from the roof and trim shrubs away from the house to allow access.
10. Repair or replace broken, damaged or missing items such as door knobs, locks and latches, window locks and broken glass, window screens, Anti-siphon devices on exterior faucets, rain gutters and downspouts, chimney flue caps.
Take these actions and your home inspection will go faster and will result in a “Cleaner” inspection report – good news for you, your realtor and your buyer.
TAREI Mission Statement: The Texas Association of Real Estate Inspectors’ (TAREI) mission is to enhance consumer protection by providing quality education and training to our members. TAREI provides leadership in our industry and promotes excellence within our profession by establishing and maintaining the highest standards and ethics.
Toll Free 800-241-1977 E-mail tarei@eami.com
Texas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (TAREI), 823 Congress Avenue, Suite 1300, Austin, Texas 78701, Phone 512-479-0425, Toll Free 800-241-1977, Fax 512-495-9031, E-mail tarei@eami.com, Web site www.tarei.com and www.tarei.org.
And
Robert J.P. Goodspeed,
TAREI Advanced Inspector, TREC Professional Inspector #4100, ASHI Member # 204556
281-403-1010 office 832-615-3019 internet fax 1-866-403-1010 US Tollfree
Goodspeed Inspection Services, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 Goodspeed Inspection Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised:
03/06/06.