brenda hayward
Tips for Passing Home Inspection
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Electrical System
and test outlets throughout the home. The inspector will also check for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the
kitchen and bathrooms. Designed to automatically shut off power during a short circuit, these special outlets are an
important safety feature for every home. If you live in an older home, you may want to have GFIs installed and have
your electrical system checked before an inspection.

Roof and Chimney
A home inspection will check for weak or missing shingles and make an assessment regarding the quality of the roof.
If any poor shingles are spotted, an inspector might check underneath to see if the building materials are damaged
or rotten. To prevent a poor report, you should consider replacing bad shingles and having an expert check the
overall quality of the roof.

The inspector will also check the chimney to ensure that the base of the chimney is watertight and that all bricks and
mortar are in good condition. Prior to the inspection, you may also want to check to make sure the chimney is clear
and that the fireplace is working properly.

Gutters
Prior to the inspection, try to make sure your gutters are clean and rainwater is able to flow without spilling over the
sides. Also, down spouts should be pointed away from the house, as poor drainage is often the cause of mold and
mildew problems.

Mold and Mildew
If you have seen mold or mildew anywhere in your home, you should consider contacting a cleanup professional
prior to the inspection. Regardless of where mold and mildew are found in the home, it is important to both kill the
fungus and fix the cause of the problem.
As home-buyers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects mold and mildew can have on a home, you might
experience difficulty selling your home if you don’t take care of the issue. If you have a basement, take some extra
time to check the walls and floors for signs of water damage.

After the initial inspection, try not to be discouraged if the inspector finds a few flaws; very few homes are perfect
and inspectors are trained to take note of every possible concern.  Home inspections are designed to assess the
working order of the home’s infrastructure and assure the buyer that home’s condition matches the details of the
contract. In short, if you take care of the most important repair concerns before you try to sell, you will grant yourself
a better chance of passing your home inspection.  










The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC writes select articles about important topics related to real estate. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit ColdwellBanker.com today.
home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages
and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This
article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips
on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing
If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as
soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home’s plumbing system, a
home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing
toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you
have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a
professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Heating and Cooling Systems
As there are many types of heating and cooling systems, there is no standard test for home
inspectors. However, regardless of what type of heating and cooling system you have, it will
need inspecting. You may want to consider having your heating and cooling units serviced
prior to selling your home.