San Antonio, Texas Real Estate Blog & Market News

It is a nerve-rattling experience - a home inspection on your home! If you are like most sellers, you may be more than a bit nervous when the home inspection rolls around. As most people know, a home inspection can make or break your San Antonio real estate transaction. Although there's not much you can do regarding the unknown, there are a few simple tips that can make the home inspection process a bit more pleasant:

1. Clean up! This may sound simple, but the first thing you need to remember is that a home inspector's first impression of your home can often create an impression in his or her mind. A clean house, for example, evokes a feeling that the homeowner takes pride in his or her home and that basic maintenance has been taken care of.
2. Assemble all receipts and repair documents to show the inspector what you have addressed. This will clear up any confusion regarding when the furnace was last serviced, for example, and make the home inspection move along at a quicker pace.
3. Leave your utilities connected, even if the house is vacant. A home inspector will need access to the water, the gas and the electricity to properly test your home's appliances, furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner, etc. If your utilities are disconnected, the home inspection will need to be delayed until the home has been properly inspected.
4. Clear the way so that the home inspector can easily access the garage, the electrical panel, the attic, the furnace and the hot water heater. Remove any clutter and create a clear pathway to, once again, facilitate the home inspection and speed the process along.
5. Leave the house, if possible, during the home inspection, and take the pets with you. Because buyers are typically present during the home inspection, you may create an uncomfortable situation if you stay at the home. Instead, grab the kids and the pets and leave the home. On average, a home inspection can last anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours, so make arrangements beforehand and plan to be gone for at least a few hours.