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Inspecting a building has always been challenging as it demands some preparation on your part as the building owner. Building inspection is often done in preparation for the sale of the property or as a preventive measure against certain damages. The process is always very detailed and compact when done by a professional.
In the course of the inspection, the inspection officer takes his time to check the property thoroughly. A few issues may be examined, from heating and plumbing problems to mould and leaks. This is often done to identify potential damage before purchasing a property.
Many people feel anxious when the process occurs, which is very normal. You can ensure specific measures are taken to reduce the amount of nervousness you feel or even perhaps wholly avoid it.
In this article, we will give you clues on what you should do before the arrival of the inspection officer. You needn't panic during the inspection if the under-listed steps are applied. Now, let's get straight into how you can prepare adequately for the inspection of your building.
Preparing for the Building Inspector's Arrival
Some of the preparation measures include:
Allow access
To make the inspection process hassle-free, you and the inspector must do proper sanitation. This means you should not make particular areas inaccessible as everywhere, both outdoors and indoors, must be checked. If you are thinking of trying to cause a blockade in certain areas so they are bypassed, you should reconsider.
Tidy every room in the house as much as you can.
Do away with elements that stay in the way of places liable to be inspected. Once you are done with the interior, efforts should also be made to ensure that the exterior is as clean as possible.
The interior includes the attic, basement, and cabinets beneath the sinks, while the exterior involves everything outdoors, including mouldings and sidings. If this is correctly done, you will not only have made the inspector's work more manageable, but it will also help you spot home defects.
Clean the house
It is expected that the house be kept clean. Considering that you may be thinking of selling the house, it is safe to say you have been paying more attention to cleanliness. This habit should be upheld for as long as possible as it gives buyers an excellent impression of you.
Cleaning the house does not necessarily score a point in the inspection report. However, it is an excellent pre-purchase measure that gives the inspector an idea of how concerned you are towards the affairs and appearance of your property.
A dirty house naturally casts doubts in the inspector's mind and gives the impression of inadequate home maintenance. Therefore, endeavour to keep your place as clean as possible.
Handle repairs and fix defects
It is your house, and you have been living there for a while now; you should know where repairs ought to be made. Issues with appliances or plumbing should be checked and repaired before the inspection.
Fixing minor appliances utilised in the home should also be carried out. If you are someone that has been economising the situation because you live alone, it is time to fix all those defects. These little defaults should not appear on the inspection report because they may influence the buyer's decision.
Ensure you correct all issues concerning repairs before putting the house up for sale. Some specific buyers will be fine with taking care of the repairs, but it is always encouraging to know that the house owner has taken proper care of the property.
Replace faulty light bulbs
A burned-out bulb may sound inconsequential when expecting property inspection and, often, does not represent the absolute condition of the building. Some inspectors will take that as an issue with how the house is wired. Instead of just focusing on the particular burned-out light bulb, they may assume that there is a severe underlying cause.
Avoiding this sort of problem is no big deal if you take the time to replace that particular light bulb. This will, at first glance, indicate no electrical issues. It eventually eases the inspector's work by averting the stress of adding a new problem to the report.
Cabinets and doors
The condition of cabinets and doors is essential during the building inspection. The overall state of doors and cabinets should be checked thoroughly, and repairs should be made wherever a fault is observed. There are doors you seldom use, probably in guest rooms, which should also be examined.
Ensure the handles can be fastened, all the doors fit correctly into their frames, and the locks are in good condition. Check the doors of cabinets, especially the hinges, as they tend to loosen easily. If you notice that the door does not close properly, the hinge might be loose and can be tightened using a screwdriver.
Toilet condition
Toilets are generally an integral part of a building. You should ask yourself if it runs after flushing; if the answer is no, you have a problem. This is a common problem with most toilets.
While it is ignorable when you experience it daily, you should try fixing it before the inspection. It is a cheap repair to carry out. Most times, all you have to do is have the tank valves replaced.
Ventilation system
Ensuring that the ventilation system is in good working condition is another factor to put into consideration. This can be done by consistently replacing the ventilation system's filter whenever you feel lousy air quality. Just like other factors, it should be done before the arrival of the inspector.
Having a dirty filter attached to the ventilation system signifies that you do not take proper care of your home. Try as much as possible to get it checked and to avoid the risk of an unpleasant report being made by the inspector.
Invasive insects and pest control
Insect invasion into buildings is now a common problem. When preparing for building and pest inspection, you should ensure this problem has been dealt with. This is always seen during warm seasons; it should not be recurrent if adequately addressed.
How clean is your kitchen? Are there ants always on the move? Or wasp nests hung somewhere on the walls? If all of these are issues you are experiencing, you should work on them before building and pest inspections occur.
Insect infestation is a significant problem and can deter potential buyers from continuing the purchase. So, ensure you engage in proper pest control so that pest inspections will yield a favourable result.
Roofing condition
Homeowners do not always pay attention to their roofs until they start experiencing a heavy leak. Try visiting your roof to check for probable defects and repair them. The inspector will certainly check this, as there's no house without a roof.
Gutters should be cleaned, debris removed, and damaged or missing tiles should be checked and handled. Offer yourself the best chance possible by checking and making roof repairs before inspections.
Consult with Expert Building Inspectors
Before the inspection day arrives, you should have checked and made sure that the factors mentioned earlier have been considered and possible corrections have been made. The inspector's job is made more accessible when you turn on all utilities and permit free access into all areas of the building.
You can decide to remain there and monitor the inspection or leave it to the inspector to do his job. If you are an owner of pets, you should take them with you when going out to ensure their safety. No buyer anticipates a perfect report but provided no major issues are reported; they will go ahead and make the purchase.
This might look like you are performing the task of the building inspectors themselves but don't overthink it, as you are just making sure your property is in good condition. Take the mentioned points seriously and watch your building get a decent inspection report. To get reliable property inspections done, work with professional building inspectors.
