Ten Ways to Prepare Your Home for Inspection
You do not need a magazine-ready house for an inspection. You need a home the inspector can safely reach and evaluate. A little preparation can prevent a locked door or a stack of boxes from becoming a missing piece of the report.
Who handles access?
Legacy Home Inspections® will attempt to schedule access through ShowingTime or directly with the listing agent or seller. Let us know at least 48 hours ahead if special arrangements are needed, including tenant-occupied homes. The property owner, occupant or tenant is responsible for making systems and components readily accessible.
Ten things to check before we arrive
Entry arrangements: Make sure the person granting access knows the appointment time and any entry instructions are current.
Locked areas: Make keys or access information available for included rooms and buildings.
Electrical panel: Clear the route and working area. Do not remove covers or touch wiring.
Heating, cooling and water-heating equipment: Leave room to reach and evaluate it.
Attic entrance: Remove stored items blocking the opening or the space needed to reach it.
Crawlspace entrance: Make the entrance accessible without moving belongings.
Belongings and wall hangings: The owner, occupant or tenant should move items that obstruct systems or access before the visit. Our inspectors do not handle or move personal property or ask agents to move it.
Pets: Arrange a secure place away from the inspection work.
Utilities and equipment: Tell us about shutoffs or equipment that cannot be operated. Use qualified professionals for unsafe or unfamiliar work; do not restart equipment shut down for a safety concern.
Questions and records: Leave available repair information and tell us about known concerns or areas that will remain inaccessible.
Tell us about a limitation before inspection day
If a room cannot be opened or an entrance remains blocked, let us know. We can discuss the effect on the appointment. Moving boxes around while the inspector waits is not a substitute for having access ready.
Leave time for the conversation
Allow about 2½–3 hours for a regular home inspection, depending on the property and conditions. Clients and their agents are encouraged to attend the final 30 minutes so we can point out observed concerns and answer questions.
Choose your inspection appointment, or call 984-212-9053 to discuss the property. Our inspection planning checklist also helps you organize timing and follow-up.
From Legacy Home Inspections®: meet the people who inspect your home.
