In part 1, we talked about things you can do to the exterior of homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville to prepare them and to minimize the number of issues that appear on various inspection reports that a prospective buyer will have done during the customary inspection period. The three most common inspections ordered by buyers or their agents being a structural pest report, a roof inspection, and a whole-house inspection. In addition to making the home look more presentable and maximizing the selling price, addressing some of the typical items that show up on these reports prior to the inspections taking place can ensure that the final reports show minimal issues for the buyer to be concerned with and provide them with some reassurance that the home they’re purchasing won’t be a money pit of repairs. We recommend sellers do these inspection prior to putting up homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville to relieve stress and pressure from the whole process.

In part 2, we’ll look at some things you can do on the interior homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville to minimize issues that could appear during these inspections. For the interior, most issues will show up in the whole-house inspection report. Here are some of the more common items that routinely appear on these reports of homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville and what you can do to keep them from appearing as a problem in the inspection reports.

Appliances. The inspector will turn on appliances (stovetop, oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, etc.) to make sure they’re in operating condition. If there are minor issues with any of these, this is the time to have them corrected. If any of these require major repairs, talk to your agent about the best approach for your situation, whether that’s replacing the appliance, adjusting the listing price, or crediting the buyer at closing.

Lights. Hard-wired lighting fixtures (but not lamps) will be turned throughout the house. Make sure all the bulbs are working. This is an easy fix for any homes for sale in Vacaville and homes for sale in Fairfield.

Electrical Outlets. Surprisingly, issues are often discovered here, usually due to changes in building codes since the home was first built. However, other issues such as wrong polarity or poor grounding often surface here. For less than $10, you can purchase an outlet tester that will tell you if your electrical outlets are working properly. Also, if any outlet covers are missing or damaged, they should be replaced – the inspector will note these on the report, as the outlet covers serve to prevent the spread of fire by covering openings in the walls. Whether you make the repairs yourself or you hire someone to do it for you depends on your level of comfort in working with electricity. This is something to definitely look into when dealing with homes for sale in Vacaville and homes for sale in Fairfield.

Plumbing. This part of the inspection covers a lot of areas. The inspector will make sure water flows at adequate pressure, looks under sinks for leaks or water damage, checks connections, checks that the toilets are properly mounted and are tightly fastened, and observes how the drains flow. In homes for sale in Vacaville and homes for sale in Fairfield, the shower/tub faucets will be operated as well to ensure they operate smoothly and are leak-free. The washer connections will be looked at as well. Knowing this, you can go through the list yourself and address items before the inspector does. It’s also a good time to inspect the caulking around the tub, sinks and toilets and re-caulk as needed (NOTE: If there is a plumbing leak under the house, the structural pest inspector will likely be the one to discover it). Fairfield homes for sale and Vacaville homes for sale trying to maximize profit should consider checking plumbing beforehand.

Water Heater. In Fairfield homes for sale and Vacaville homes for sale, the inspector will look for the year the water heater was made and visually inspect the tank exterior and components, making sure the proper gas line (flexible tubing) is installed and that the water heater is properly secured (California requires the water heater to be strapped and secured to studs to prevent falling in the event of an earthquake).

Fire Door. The door that leads from the house to the garage (assuming you have an attached garage) is required to be self-closing to prevent fire from spreading from the garage to the home and vice-versa. If your door doesn’t close on its own, you may be able to adjust the spring tension on the hinge, depending on the model. If you need to replace the hinge, they can typically be found for less than $15 at your local hardware store so make sure to get it fixed before putting up homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville.

Heating and Air Conditioning. The whole-house inspector will operate both the furnace and air conditioner to ensure that the furnace blows warm air and the AC is blowing cold air. In homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville, make sure that the furnace filter is clean, as this will be noted by the inspector.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. The State requires a smoke detector in every bedroom and in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. At least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector is required on every level of homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville. Fortunately, both these appliances are inexpensive, with both types available for less than $20 at your local hardware store.

Following these tips may not result in in the inspection reports being free of any issues in homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville – the inspectors are being paid to find issues, after all – but they can help minimize the number of items showing up as problems a prospective buyer has to consider when deciding to purchase your home or someone else’s. Lastly, whether you choose to follow these tips or not, make sure every room in your home is as clean as you can get it. This suggests to the buyer (and inspector) that you’ve taken care of the property while you lived there.

If you need any guidance on listing homes for sale in Fairfield and homes for sale in Vacaville, don’t hesitate to contact Community Real Estate Services.