How to Get Ready for a Home Inspection

FHA Guidelines and Home Inspections

When it comes to home inspections, the FHA Guidelines are pretty comprehensive. On average, a home inspection requires 500 data points. That is a lot to comb over. Having an FHA home inspector come in can seem a bit daunting if you don’t know how to properly prepare. However, once you understand the FHA guidelines and know how to prepare for a building inspector, there really isn’t much to worry about.

As experts in FHA Guidelines, we have prepared a small list for you of things you can do to prepare for an FHA home inspection. Passing the FHA guidelines is vital to selling your property, whether commercial or residential. Here is what you need to know:

Easy Access to Critical Areas: Be sure that access to critical areas of the home are clear. This includes the electrical box, furnace, water heater, and air conditioning units among other things. All of these aspects must be included in the inspector’s report, and if there isn’t an easy way to access them, the inspector will be unable to include them in the report. This is a big red flag to potential buyers.

Prepare the Plumbing: Plumbing is one of the biggest issues for home inspections. Before having the home inspected, go through each sink and bath drain to make sure they drain properly. If you notice a slow drain in any of the sinks or baths, be sure to fix the drain or clog before having the home inspected. This could be done with store bought clog removers or with the help of a plumber.

Replace All Light Bulbs: Go through the home and find any burned out light bulbs. Replace these before having a home inspection done. If the lights are burned out, an inspector cannot tell if it is because of the light bulb or an underlying electrical issue. Having all the bulbs in working condition ensures you get top marks on electrical for your home.

Replace Air Filters: Just like light bulbs, replace your air filters. This usually is very inexpensive and only takes a few minutes. Having clean air filters on the HVAC system is impressive to home inspectors as it shows proper upkeep of the home.

Smoke and CO2 Detectors: Make sure all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are in working condition and are not expired. The carbon monoxide detector should generally be placed in the sleeping area of the home.

Pest Control: This should go without saying, but get rid of any pest or bug problems before having a home inspection done. Termites are an automatic failure. Other pests of note are carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and other wood destroying insects. Take proper measures to ensure your home is free from pests before inviting the inspector over.

Get Properly Capped: There are many parts of the home that should be capped. If you have a chimney, be sure it is properly capped to avoid hot embers from floating up and landing on the roof. Unused gas lines should also be caped.

Proper Yard Maintenance: Make sure your landscaping looks good. This is the first impression as the inspector comes over and you want to set the tone. Additionally, consider how any of the trees or overhanging plants might impact your property. For example, large trees with branches that hang over a roof can damage the roof not just by falling, but by allowing moss and lichen to build up on the roof, compromising its integrity. Trees also allow rodents access to the roof and chimney of the home.

Check Windows and Doors: Check all of the windows and doors in the home to ensure they are functioning properly. Be sure that each lock is secure and works, as this is a big factor in overall home safety. Additionally, be sure that the hinges are working properly and aren’t lose, creaking, or otherwise unappealing.

Be Up Front About Issues: If there are issues that you know could scare away potential home buyers, be up front about them. Trying to hide issues is only going to end up devaluing your home. Go through the latest home report you have for any unaddressed issues you have faced in the last years.