So, you’re in the process of selling your home and know that home Inspector is coming to chip the value off of your home. Home inspections can be bring stress on your shoulders knowing that each and every nook and cranny of your home will be evaluated.

Some of the structures and internal systems inspectors often examine include: foundation, walls and flooring, electrical systems, plumbing systems, heating and cooling systems, and insulation. Again, the thought of your home inspection going south might have you quite worrisome. Nevertheless, if you do your part to prepare, your home inspection can be a breeze.

Here are 5 ways to prepare and make sure you’re ready for a home inspection.

1. Provide Access to Needed Areas

Providing access for the home inspector may be the most important preparation process for your home inspection. Providing access essentially means producing the necessary space for the inspector to get to the areas they need to perform their evaluations. As previously mentioned, there are many areas inspectors tend to travel to throughout a home. However, locations that tend to give inspectors issues are usually the garage and attic of homes. Many sellers tend to fail in tidying up these spaces up for inspectors to do their work. As a rule of thumb, many inspectors prefer to have items moved at least three feet from walls inside the attic and garage areas.

2. Ensure Utilities are Connected and Working Properly

To do their job properly, the home inspector will want to check everything. And by everything, expect for almost all of your appliances and utilities to be inspected for their condition. This includes utilities and appliances such as: refrigerators, dishwasher, stove, washer and dryer, etc. Prior to your home inspection date, you will want to ensure that these appliances are plugged in, working properly, and are clean. It may seem silly that all of these appliances will be examined. But the condition of your utilities and appliances can be useful information for a Potential Buyer.

3. Leave Keys for Additional Areas of the Home

Another way you can be prepared, which is actually quite simple, is to make sure you leave any additional keys for the inspector. This is rather important if your home has certain features such as an unattached garage or a shed house. All of these additional areas if being included with the purchase of the home will be evaluated during the home inspection. Also, be sure to leave keys or unlock other significant items such as the electrical box or a sprinkler system.

Out of all the tips mentioned, cleaning your house may have been the only one fresh in your mind to be taken care of. Regardless, homeowners looking at selling a house that don’t clean their house prior to their inspection, may give the inspector a bad taste in their mouth and check off more based off of the living conditions. If not clean for the inspector, maybe just do it for yourself and the piece of mind it will bring that you’ve set up the inspector for a positive experience and hopeful for a positive inspection.

The final tip to leave you with is that you should prepare yourself that scheduling conflicts may occur and the home inspection will happen when you’re absent from the house. Some home sellers actively choose to allow the inspector and their potential buyer all the room they need within the house to perform the inspection. It’s unknown if the inspector appreciates this gesture even though it most likely makes their process a good deal easier. However, for your potential buyer, it’s a more settling experience when they aren’t afraid to ask the inspector questions while within your presence. If this makes sense or is possible for you and the family, consider being absent during the inspection.