Home Inspection Checklist for Sellers

What should sellers do before a home inspection?

Start with the simple things that help the inspection go smoothly.

Start with access, not panic repairs

An inspector cannot give the buyer useful information about something they cannot reach. Walk through the house as though you have never been there before.

Electrical panel

Move boxes, clothes, tools, shelves, or stored items that block the panel. Do not remove covers, touch wiring, or attempt electrical repairs because the inspection is tomorrow.

HVAC equipment

Make sure the air handler or HVAC equipment can be reached. If the filter is obviously dirty and changing it is normal maintenance for you, change it. If the system is not working correctly, tell your broker instead of trying to hide it.

Water heater

Clear stored boxes, cleaning supplies, and other belongings away from the water heater so the inspector can see it.

Attic access

Clear a reasonable path to the attic opening. Do not make the inspector move a closet full of storage to reach it. Do not climb into the attic tonight looking for problems unless you normally know how to do that safely.

Under sinks

You do not need to empty every cabinet. But clearing enough space under kitchen and bathroom sinks helps the inspector see supply lines, drains, and signs of leakage.

Garage and exterior areas

Make sure the garage door can operate. Unlock gates that need to be accessed. If the property has a pool, detached structure, exterior utility equipment, or another included feature, make reasonable access available.

What should you fix before the inspection?

This is where sellers can accidentally create trouble for themselves. Use three buckets.

1. Simple things you can handle normally

Take care of routine items that do not require diagnosing a larger problem.

• Replace a burned-out light bulb.
• Move clutter away from access points.
• Replace an HVAC filter that is due for normal replacement.
• Put keys, remotes, and access instructions where they can be found.
• Clean enough that plumbing fixtures and mechanical areas can be viewed.

2. Things you need facts about

Stop and get more information if you find an active leak, a tripping breaker, a roof leak, moisture, backed-up plumbing, unsafe equipment, or damage you did not know about.

A rushed guess tonight is not better than getting the facts tomorrow.

3. Things you should not try to hide

Do not paint over a water stain to make it disappear. Do not stack boxes in front of a known problem. Do not disconnect something because you are afraid it will be tested. Do not perform a questionable temporary repair just to get through the inspection.

If there is a real problem, we are better off understanding it. A hidden problem can become a much bigger transaction problem later.

What documents should sellers gather?

Do not spend the evening building a binder nobody asked for. Just gather what you already have.

• Roof permit, invoice, or warranty information.
• HVAC replacement or service records.
• Permits for major improvements.
• Electrical or plumbing repair invoices.
• Transferable warranties.
• Wind-mitigation or four-point inspection reports.
• Survey, pool, septic, or major system records if applicable.

You do not necessarily need to leave every document on the counter. Gather it and ask your listing broker what will actually help.

What about utilities and pets?

If the home is occupied, utilities are usually already handled. Vacant homes deserve another look. If water, electricity, or another normal utility has accidentally been shut off, the inspector may not be able to evaluate systems that depend on it.

But do not turn on, energize, or relight something you believe may be unsafe just because an inspector is coming. Tell your broker and decide whether a qualified professional should evaluate it.

Pets should be secured or removed before the inspection. The inspector may need to open doors, enter the yard, access the garage, and move through the home without worrying about a pet getting loose.

Does the house need to be spotless?

No. This is an inspection, not a showing.

You do not need fresh flowers or perfect pillows. But excessive clutter can prevent access. There is a difference between a house looking lived in and nobody being able to reach the electrical panel.

What happens after the inspection?

After the buyer receives the inspection report, they may accept the home as-is, ask for repairs, ask for a credit or concession, renegotiate terms, or cancel if their contract allows it.

The right response depends on the contract, the actual issue, the buyer's leverage, the seller's goals, and whether the request is reasonable. That topic belongs on the next page in this inspection cluster: what happens after the buyer's home inspection.