Looking to sell your home? As a seller, you want potential buyers to be impressed with the condition of your house and make a competitive offer. One way of ensuring your home is flawless and generates multiple offers is by getting a pre-listing home inspection.

A home inspection will allow you to find and fix problems before placing your home on the market. Moreover, a home inspection report will reassure buyers that they’re making a smart investment and therefore, improve your chances of a quick sale. 

While narrowing down on a home inspector can be a task in itself, many are unprepared for the inspection and fail to get the most out of it. To ensure this does not happen to you, Elementary Property Inspections has compiled a list of five tips to make your home inspection count.

#Tip 1: Use a certified home inspector.
The requirements needed to be a certified home inspector with the Canadian National Association of Certified Home Inspectors are extensive, but nothing replaces the knowledge of someone who has done the work. Knowing how things fit together, how every element works, and how normal wear and tear looks, is something that comes with years of experience.

If possible, hire a home inspector who has experience and a background in home construction and remodeling. 

#Tip 2: Make sure the house is ready.
Nothing is worse than paying for a home inspection on a house that isn’t ready. To get the most out of your home inspection, ensure the electricity and water is turned on, and the outlets, windows, panel boxes, and crawl spaces are accessible. Also, make sure the home inspector can access the inside of the property with an access code or key.

#Tip 3: Be present for the inspection.
While it may not be necessary to attend the entire home inspection, you should consider being present for at least the last hour. It’s a good time for the inspector to review the findings one-on-one and point out any defects or problems in person.

#Tip 4: Ask questions.
If something isn’t clear or doesn’t make sense, ask the inspector. Sometimes, home inspectors fall into industry talk, which makes the explanation confusing. While a good home inspector is a teacher that patiently breaks down issues into understandable components, “shop-talk” can happen to the best of us. So, if something is confusing, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

#Tip 5: Insist on pictures.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure your home inspector uses images in his report. A home inspection report with pictures is valuable not only for the client but for everyone in a real estate transaction. The photos illuminate what deficiencies need attention and remove the ambiguity of a solely written report.

If you’re looking for certified home inspectors in Niagara, Ontario, who can provide quality services and a comprehensive report, reach out to Elementary Property Inspections. Along with professional home inspections, we also offer asbestos testing, black mold and air quality testing to clients in Niagara, St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Thorold, Fonthill, Niagara Falls, Grimsby, Beamsville, Niagara on the Lake, Hamilton, and the surrounding areas.

To learn more about our services, please click here, or get in touch with us by clicking here.