Your All-In-One Home Inspection Checklist for Sellers

When it comes to selling a house, some might think it’s only buyers who need to be vigilant about home inspections. However, sellers who complete a home inspection checklist can identify and fix potential areas of concern before buyers even have the chance to give them a second thought. Inexpensive repairs can improve the chances of a glowing home inspection report, putting buyers at ease and improving the appeal of a home. Present your property at its best by carefully going through this home inspection checklist for sellers. 

Basic Curb Appeal Checklist

Curb appeal may not technically be part of what a home inspection is, but it plays a major role in a buyer’s decision-making process. It’s important to give off the best first impression possible. This may be easier for new home building inspections, as older homes may benefit from a bit more sprucing up. 

Warning signs to look out for include:

• Standing water or poor drainage

• Poorly maintained landscaping, like overgrown lawns and untrimmed hedges

• Cracks in concrete, driveways, and walking paths

• Visible damage to fences and decks

• Chipped exterior paint

• Rusted, worn, or damaged exterior lighting

Try to view your home as if you are thinking about buying it yourself. Look for things that may turn you off as a buyer. 

Exterior Walkthrough Checklist

Consider what local home inspectors may see and do when they come to inspect your property. As they walk around the outside of your home, they will look for potential problems such as:

• Visible cracks in the foundation

• A roof with cracked, damaged, or missing shingles

• Rotting or cracking window or door frames 

• Overly worn weather stripping on doors

• Moisture accumulation in windows

• Overly worn or decaying siding or stucco

• Visible damage to exterior walls

• Clogged or damaged gutters that aren’t draining properly

• A garage door that doesn’t open and close correctly

Look for regular wear and tear, too. While they may not be deal-breakers, they could color a home inspector’s impression of how well your house is maintained.

Interior Walkthrough Checklist

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After walking around the outside of your house, take a closer look at the inside of your home. As you do, make a note of areas that you can clean and declutter. This goes back to giving a positive first impression, but it’s equally important to give home inspectors reasonably easy access. If a home inspector notes in their report that they were not able to see something, it could make a buyer think twice. 

Windows and Doors

Check all the windows and doors in your home, and make sure they open and close easily, including all locks. You may be able to fix a “sticky” window with some inexpensive lubricant spray or by repairing the window track. Clear the tracks on sliding doors and make sure they’re easy to open and close. Also, inspect window and door frames for gaps, cracks, or soft spots. 

Living Spaces

Go through your home, room by room plus hallways and stairways, and look for issues you may want to address.

• Repair water stains from old leaks that have already been fixed

• Patch up unsightly chips, cracks, and holes in the walls and ceilings

• Address issues with uneven or damaged flooring

• Ensure all light switches and electrical outlets work

Kitchen

The kitchen is often called the heart of a home, and for good reason. Pay close attention to this room as you complete your seller’s home inspection checklist. Areas to check include:

• Major appliances like the fridge, stove, and dishwasher

• Cabinets and drawers

• Kitchen sink and faucet, including possible leaks underneath

• GFCI outlets near the sink

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are among the most complex areas of a house. Home inspections pay very close attention to bathrooms because they can be the source of many expensive problems. As you inspect your bathrooms, look for:

• Water leaks from pipes

• Water pressure in showers and bathtubs

• Exhaust fan operation

• Mold and mildew, especially on and around caulking

• Toilet function, stability, and stains

Attics and Basements

Remember that home inspections will look beyond the main living areas. Attics, basements, and crawl spaces are fair game, too, so be sure to include them as part of your home inspection checklist for sellers. As you brush away the cobwebs, look for:

• Signs of rodents, insects, and other pests

• Standing water, moisture, or water damage

• Insulation and ventilation issues

• Unexpected holes leading to the outside

• Mold and mildew buildup

• Decaying wooden elements

Major Utilities Checklist

A bit of chipped paint may seem like nothing more than a cosmetic issue. But problems with major utilities are among the most common things that fail a home inspection. An aging, overloaded electrical system can be a serious red flag for potential buyers, enough to motivate them to back out of a deal altogether. Avoid future struggles by checking the major systems in your house as part of your seller’s home pre-inspection. 

Plumbing

From cold showers to moldy water damage, plumbing issues can be a source of some serious headaches. Even if you’ve grown accustomed to the quirks in your house, home inspectors and potential buyers can see these problems as major deterrents. Things to check for include:

• Condition of the pipes and plumbing fixtures 

• Pipes that are leaking

• Water heater reaches 118 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit

• Adequate water pressure

• Signs of water damage

HVAC

Test your HVAC system to make sure it is running in tip-top condition. Now is a good time to catch up on a few maintenance items, too.

• Clean visible ductwork

• Replace filters in furnaces and air conditioning units

• Declutter mechanical room

• Look for possible leaks

It may also be a good idea to call in a professional HVAC technician to inspect and service your furnace and air conditioner.

Electrical

If you’re unsure about your home’s electrical system, it is a good idea to call in a licensed electrician to take a look—they’ll know all about industry and state standards. As you inspect your home, some items you may check include:

• Fuse box is in good working order

• Visible wiring is in good condition and not frayed

• Lights, switches, and power outlets are all working

• Electrical switch and outlet covers are intact

Safety Systems

A very simple task to include in your home inspection checklist is to test your home’s safety systems. Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly. Test that your fire extinguisher is still on hand and in working order. Now is also a good time to check your home security system, if you have one. 

Final Pre-Listing Checklist

After you’ve addressed any issues you found by completing this seller’s home inspection checklist, a few finishing touches can really help your home shine. These are all optional things, but they can definitely help close on a sale faster and maybe even get you a higher listing price. Some tasks to consider include:

• Pressure washing the exterior

• Applying fresh coats of paint

• Deep cleaning major surfaces, like carpeting

• Sprucing up the landscaping with fresh flowers and decorative rocks

• Decluttering and putting excess items into off-site storage

• Removing bold artwork and furniture

• Touching up scratches, scuff marks, and other minor blemishes

• Fixing or replacing loose door handles and fixtures

• Freshening up the space with a pleasant, neutral scent

• Hiding and locking up valuables, like jewelry

• Considering hiring a staging company

Legal Obligation to Disclose

In the U.S., sellers are legally obligated to disclose if they know the property has any major problems or material defects. Some states have standardized forms for these written disclosures. Examples of what home sellers must disclose to buyers include:

• History of infestation, like rodents or termites

• Issues relating to foundation and grading

• Known roofing damage or issues

• Known water damage

• Local environmental hazards, like flood plains

• Lead-based paint or lead plumbing in the home

• Asbestos, radon, and other safety hazards

• Notable missing items, like kitchen appliances or HVAC equipment

• Deaths in the home related to property condition or violent crime

Sellers must also disclose if they’ve done any work to the property without a permit, like building a new deck. Unauthorized additions or changes may not be up to code and can cause issues during the buyer’s home inspection. Failing to disclose is fraud and may leave sellers open to potential lawsuits and even criminal charges.

Love It and List It

Before you list your house for sale, run through this home inspection checklist for sellers. You may be able to identify issues you may have overlooked, and a home inspector surely will not miss. Minor tasks, like changing light bulbs and re-caulking around sinks can make a world of difference. 

While buyers usually pay for a home inspection, you may also consider investing in a pre-listing home inspection. This can help set your listing apart and show potential buyers that you’ve taken good care of your home. Find a trusted home inspector near you for guidance on what maintenance and repair tasks you should get done before listing your home for sale.