You listed your house with a realtor and they did their job. They held open houses, listed it on the MLS, and for the past few weeks you have kept your home spotless amid the endless stream of potential buyers wandering through. Then an offer arrived and you have a contract, your home is almost sold!

Now the buyers are sending an inspector to check on the condition of the property. The house is a total mess because you are packing up everything you own to move on to the next chapter of your life. So what do you do? Another stranger is about to walk through your home.

How do you know the inspector isn't just a random person coming into your home?

First things first: if the buyers hired an InterNACHI Certified, state-licensed inspector, you can relax. Certified inspectors undergo background checks, and InterNACHI stands behind our work with a $10,000 Honor Guarantee. The inspector won't be alone, either, the selling realtor attends the inspection, and most of the time the home buyer does too.

Does my house need to be spotless?

Every inspector has pet peeves, but how clean your house is generally isn't one of them. A few small things do make the day go smoother:

Empty the sinks, tubs and showers. We need to run the water and check the drains, so please clear them out.
Empty the oven. We very often forget to check inside before turning it on, we have reheated pots and pans more than once!

Accessibility is everything

My main concern is always access. You can keep the garage full of storage, but leave a clear path around the sides. Make sure there is plenty of room in front of the water heater and the electrical panel. Most importantly, make sure the attic access is available, if your garage has a pull-down attic ladder, pull it down ahead of time so you know it has clearance and the inspector can get in.

Your home inspection prep checklist

As inspectors we go through far more items than this, but if you handle the list below you will make the inspector's job much easier and faster:

Clear access to the attic, electrical panel, water heater, furnace and A/C units
Leave a path around stored items in the garage, basement and crawl space
Empty sinks, tubs, showers and the oven
Make sure all utilities (water, gas, electric) are turned on
Unlock gates, sheds, electrical panels and any exterior access points
Move pets safely out of the way or remove them from the home
Replace burned-out light bulbs so working fixtures aren't flagged
Provide keys or codes for any locked rooms or outbuildings

Book an inspection for your new home!

Don't forget, you're moving out of your home, but your new home needs an inspection too! We inspect the OKC metro and surrounding areas. If you need an inspection in Shawnee, we'll be there. If you need a home inspection in Edmond, no problem. Moving to Norman and need your home inspected tomorrow? We'll do whatever we can to have you as a client.

Schedule your inspection online now, or view our transparent pricing to see exactly what your inspection will cost.