BEWARE:

HOME INSPECTIONS
CAN COST
SERIOUS MONEY
This Checklist Helps You Avoid

an Expensive Home Inspection Disaster

 A home inspection is a

necessary part of the home

buying and selling process.

Once you find a buyer,

you’ll need a home inspector’s

professional opinion on

the state of your home for

the sale to go through.

About

Author

Frank Sanya

Broker/Owner of Market Leaders Realty Group

Over 3000 homes SOLD - and

I’m going to sell YOURS

Let me put my 40+ years of experience

to work for you

Hi, I’m Frank, a certified realtor with over 40

years experience. I’ve worked with countless

home sellers, home buyers, realtors, and real

estate professionals.

This guide is to help you make the best, most

informed decision when choosing a realtor to

sellyour home.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

Imagine this. You’ve jumped through all the hoops and put in all

the work to get your home on the market. And it’s all paid off

because you have a buyer and a good selling price all lined up.

With the buyers offer ratified the only thing left to do is pack. Your

new place is secured and everything’s prepped to make the move.

But then disaster strikes. The buyer suddenly decides to cancel

due to the “Home Inspection contingency”. As all your plans start

to unravel, you struggle to make up your previous momentum. And

with every extra day on the market, your chance of getting a high

offer sink.

Unfortunately, that story is what many homeowners like yourself

go through. A home inspection can bring up faults that you (or the

buyer) weren't expecting and the effect is devastating.

But there’s a way to avoid that whole nasty business.

You need to look at your home through the eyes of an inspector.

Take a good and honest look at the existing faults and either

communicate them to your agent, or fix them. There are plenty of

little tricks an inspector has in their toolbelt to unearth your

home’s faults. But don’t panic. This checklist will take you through

each and every section in your home so when push comes to

shove, you won’t have any nasty or worse, expensive, surprises.

Let’s get started!

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 The American

Society of Home

Inspectors defines a

home inspection as

"a documented,

professional opinion

of a home-based on

a visual evaluation

and operational

testing of the

home's systems and

components to

determine their

current condition."

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 Starting

Tips

Tip #1

If you disagree with any of the

inspector’s findings, you can hire your

own professional for a second

inspection.

Tip #2

When a home inspector asks if there

are any major issues, be honest. If you

lie, they’ll look at your house with

much more scrutiny.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 Starting

Tips

Tip #3

If something has been recently repaired, provide

the documents to the inspector. This includes

other inspections by plumbers or electricians

and insurance claims for damages done. It’ll help

the inspector move more quickly and encourage

them to trust you.

Tip #4

An inspector will need access to your

basement and attic if you have one. They’ll

also want to turn on and check appliances.

Make sure everything is clear of clutter and

easy to access.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

In The Bathroom
Clean All Mould

Mold is a major concern for homebuyers in all areas of the

house. Thoroughly remove all mold before your inspection to

avoid scrutiny

Caulk or seal any cracks in tiling

Cracks in the bathroom invite mold. Spend an afternoon

making sure they are caulked.

Make sure no drains are clogging

A clogged drain could indicate that your pipes are too small.

Gauge your water pressure

Turn on all the faucets in your highest bathroom and then flush

the toilet to check your water pressure. If the toilet still flushes

normally, there’s nothing to worry about. If not, it’s time to call

a plumber for an expert opinion.

Look at the water’s color

If the first bit of water that comes out the tap looks dirty, it

means your pipes might be rusting. This is a major issue that

causes severe quality problems.

Listen to the sound of the pipes

If you hear the sound of running water when you turn on the

tap, it can mean that the pipes are undersized. This will be

noted in the home inspection.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

In the Basement

Clean any white mineral deposits

The inspector will look for a white powdery deposit a few

inches off the floor as an indication of damp.

Store some items in your basement

The inspector will look to see if you store items in your

basement. If you do, it’s a good indication that you trust damp

not to ruin your items. If you don’t, the inspector will check

more carefully for signs of damp and mold

Seal cracks in your basement foundation

Cracks indicate your basement will be damp or wet in the

rainy months. Remember, the smell of mildew is almost

impossible to cover up, and the inspector will notice it.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

In the Attic

Check for dampness in your attic

If your attic is not properly ventilated, you could have a buildup

of moisture, mold, and mildew in your attic. If left unattended,

this will cause premature degradation of your roof.

Fix any insulation issues

Insulation padding can fall away over the years. If it’s starting

to fall away, simply re-attach it to avoid it coming up in your

inspection.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

Electrical and Wiring

Check you have at least

200 amps of service

All houses should have at least 200 amps of service and

copper or aluminum wiring. If you’re worried about this,

hire an electrician to check in advance.

Remove all octopus plugs

and tidy visible wiring

Octopus plugs are stacks of interconnecting plugs that all

get their power from one outlet. Inspectors will see octopus

plugs as an indication of inadequate circuits. A circuit

should not exceed 15 amps in the typical home.

Change all your blown

light bulbs

If a light bulb is out, an inspector might attribute it

to an electrical issue. Just to be safe, make sure all

your lightbulbs are working.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

Heating

Change the HVAC filter

Clogged filters hinder the performance of your heater and

air conditioner. Change the filters before the inspector

tests your system.

(If applicable) Check the age of

your furnace and clean off rust

Any rust on the heat indicator is cause for concern. A

furnace will last between 15 and 25 years. If your furnace is

any older or you’ve fallen behind in the services, the

inspector will recommend you or the new owners change it.

(If applicable) Replace a cracked heat

exchanger in your forced air gas system

If your heat exchanger is cracked, it can emit deadly

carbon monoxide. The home inspector will pay

particular attention to this.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

Roofing

Replace curled or split

asphalt shingles

Damaged roofing indicates deeper structural issues.

Repair any leaks

Look for water stains on your ceilings and walls. These are

clear indications that your roof has a leak that needs to be

repaired. If you have a major leak, call in a contractor to give

you a quote for the repair in advance.

Check drainage and downspouts

If the drainage on your roof is inadequate, it can lead to

massive problems later down the line. Make sure your

downspouts are large enough (3x4 inches in areas with

heavy rainfall). Extending your drainage can be a simple DIY

project that can make or break your inspection.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 CHECKLIST

Woodwork and Masonry

Replace rotting wood

The inspector will look at the wood on your door and

window frames, trimmings, decks, and fences. They will

sometimes probe the wood to check - especially if it’s

been painted recently.

(if applicable) Check the bricks in

your chimney for moisture

Fallen bricks can clog a chimney or cause it to collapse.

Bricks will be checked for moisture penetration.

Save Thousands With This Home Inspection Checklist

 Get an

Expert Opinion

on Your Home

That You Can Trust

Hi, I’m Frank, a certified realtor

with over 40 years experience. I’ve worked with countless home

sellers, home buyers, realtors, and real estate professionals.

When you call me, I'll go over some of the tactics used by buyers and
their agents to renegotiate after a home inspection and get more
money out of you. There are some simple tricks and phrases that you
can use to avoid falling into these costly traps.

Plus, I'll share some of the things to do and not to do when selling, so
you can sell for the maximum amount of money the market will pay.

If you need a little direction or want a helping hand that’s on your side,
pick up your phone right now and give me a call.

+1 (301)254 3122

franksanya45@gmail.com

Not intended to solicit property currently listed for sale.

Copyright Frank Sanya 2019. All rights reserved.

No part of this advertisement may be reproduced in any form

without prior written permission of the copyright owner.