PREPARING FOR A HOME INSPECTION:

Remember, we inspect by the State of Oregon Standards of practice, therefore our inspections are a visual, non-invasive inspection of your home. We are not allowed to move items in your home.

As a seller, you want to ensure the inspector can get to all areas of the home. If they can't and a revisit is needed, the buyer will sometimes ask the seller to pay for the reinspection. Here is how to prepare:

1. Ensure the crawlspace is accessible. This means moving items away from the crawlspace access point. A good inspection will include this area. Inspectors will not have any problem locating it, but if there are items stored on the access cover, inspectors are not allowed to remove the stored items. This means a costly revisit.

2. Ensure the attic access is accessible. If this is located in a bedroom closet, it is a good idea to move hanging clothes and other items away. When an attic hatch is moved, quite often insulation will fall towards the floor. Although a good home inspector will try to cover your clothing, do yourself and the inspector a favor: move your personal belonging away from the attic access!

3. Make sure the home inspector can access the electric panel, usually located in the garage area.  According to OSHA, the inspector must have three feet in front of the panel and access the width of the panel, or 2.5 feet, whichever is greater. This is important for safety!

4. Ensure we have access to inspect the water heater and furnace.

5. In the garage, ensure stored items are moved away from the walls enough for a thorough inspection of the walls, floor and ceiling areas.

6. We don't expect your home to be in perfect order, but certainly tidy enough that the inspector can easily make their way through your home.