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Around the House
Written by Jeffrey Wadsworth
Ready for Inspection
Agents know that a home that shows well sells more quickly. Personal items have been put away, clutter has been removed,
and the home is clean. These factors also affect inspections.
Homes that are full of stuff are more difficult to inspect and home inspectors are not required to move personal possessions. Most will if it
is to check outlets in kitchens and baths or to access the mechanicals or check a sink for leaks. Most won't move figurines, plants or photos off
window ledges, mounds of boxes away from basement walls, or stacks of shoes and hats from closets to access the attic. Agents are often enlisted to
help move items from closets so that the inspector can access the attic. Getting homeowners to part with, or at least put away, their prized possessions can be a daunting task for the listing agent. Unfortunately, many
times all the items end up being boxed and stored in the garage or the basement. Storage in the garage isn't so bad unless the access to an attic is
blocked. Inspectors do need to test the automatic garage door opener safety features so a clear path is needed to do that. Outlets in garages also
need to be tested so it is helpful that those not be blocked. The inspector will usually note in the report what cannot be inspected if it is blocked by storage. Storing all the items in the basement presents more of a challenge to the inspector. The basement is a crucial part of the inspection. The inspector
is looking for signs of water penetration, foundation problems, and mechanical problems. Fully finished basements make it virtually impossible to see any
potential problems, but no one is going to remove the drywall or paneling just so the inspector can see the walls. Storage is another matter. Sometimes homeowners will try to cover problems with mounds of boxes or other items. Eventually those items will be removed from the home and
the new owners will find what was covered. The next move by the new owner is usually a call to the inspector saying that this item was missed at the inspection.
If the inspector has completed his or her report properly it will be noted that areas of the basement were not visible at the time of the inspection. About the author:
Jeffrey Wadsworth is a licensed home inspector with Windy City Home Inspection, Inc. Mr. Wadsworth does home, commercial and EIFS inspections.
He is also a field trainer with the American Home Inspectors Training Institute.
