Make sure that all the utilities are turned on. That means water, electricity, and gas. Pilot lights should be lit. The home inspector will not light your pilot lights or turn on any utilities that have been disconnected or turned off.

For your pet's safety, you should take your pets to another location, such as a neighbor's house, or secure them outside or inside a kennel. Tell your agent about any pets that will remain at the house unsecured.

Replace any dead light bulbs. The inspector will report the light fixture as not working. This may result in the buyer thinking there is a serious electrical problem.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also, replace any dead batteries.

Replace any dirty HVAC (air conditioning) filters. They should fit securely.

There should not be any debris, stored items, wood, etc against the foundation. These are likely to be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites.

Remove items blocking access to air conditoning equipment, furnaces, electric service panels, water heaters, attics, etc. The home inspector will not move vehicles, furniture, paintings, luggage, books, beds, etc.

Areas the inspector must inspect should not be locked. This includes attic doors or hatches, breaker boxes, closets, fence gates, etc. If an area must remain locked, let your agent know.

Prune tree limbs 10 feet from the roof. Trim shrubs adjacent to the house to allow access and to forestall a report that conducive conditions exist for termites.

Repair or replace broken or missing items. This includes doorknobs, latches, locks, screens, gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Following these tips will make the inspection go faster and easier. There will be fewer repairs. Your buyer will feel more comfortable, the transaction will move ahead more smoothly and your agent will thank you.

R Michael Gray PE, Houston home inspector for 25 years, author of Homebuyer's Guide to Slab-on-Ground Foundations and webmaster for www.houston-slab-foundations.info, specializes in providing home buyers and owners with...
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOUSTON TEXAS HOME INSPECTION MORE THOROUGH, GO FASTER AND BE EASIER ON EVERYONE R Michael Gray PE 281-358-1121 HOUSTON HOME INSPECTIONS FOUNDATION INSPECTIONS NEW HOUSTON HOME INSPECTIONS OTHER ENGINEERING SERVICES
Free Reports for Houston Home Buyers Tips For a Faster, Easier and More Thorough Inspection Should you retain a Texas Licensed Houston Home Inspector or a Texas Professional Engineer? What You Should Know About C.L.U.E. Reports Who is R Michael Gray, PE? Over 25 years experience as a Houston Home Inspector/Texas Professional Engineer Texas Professional Structural Engineer, #72949. SBCCI Registered One and Two Family (code) Inspector, #4700 Author of the book, Buyer's Guide to Slab-on-Ground Foundations. Has inspected over 13,000 homes as a Houston home inspector and Texas Professional Structural Engineer Author of two professional papers regarding evaluation of slab-on-ground foundations. Coauthor of Guidelines for the Evaluation of Foundation Movement for Residential and Other Low-Rise Buildings published by the Foundation Performance Association What They Say About R Michael Gray, PE "We have bought 9 homes during our adult life. We have never seen an inspection this thorough." "We started a foundation watering program and installed root barriers for three trees a year ago. The root barriers solved the problem. Your advice saved us at least $15,000." "I know when my buyers pick you they will get a thorough, detailed report. When I am the listing agent and I hear the buyer has selected Michael Gray, I just cross my fingers." "I did not like you at all when you inspected the house I was selling. Now that I am the buyer - I want you on my side." Companies My Clients Worked For Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Conoco-Phillips, Chevron, Houston Port Authority, Brown and Root, Kellogg Brown and Root, Halliburton, Delta Engineering, Forensic Engineers, Inc., Friendswood Development, Village Builders, Newmark Builders, Shaw Group, DPIS Engineering, Fluor, Wells Fargo, City of Houston, MD Anderson, Momentum Energy, Memorial Hermann, Occidental, Bayer Chemical, Arco, The Offshore Company, Administaff, Holloman Engineering, Klad Manufacturing, Rice University, Bechtel, Kitchens and More, Texas Childrens Hospital, Cintas Corporation, IBM, Continental Airlines, University of Houston, St. Thomas University Terms of Service Privacy Policy Texas Engineering Firm Registration Number F-2171	Please email your real estate agent a link to this page and ask them to provide it to the seller. If the seller will follow these requests, your Houston home inspection will be more thorough, it will take less time and it will be easier on everyone including the seller. Make sure that all the utilities are turned on. That means water, electricity, and gas. Pilot lights should be lit. The home inspector will not light your pilot lights or turn on any utilities that have been disconnected or turned off. For your pet's safety, you should take your pets to another location, such as a neighbor's house, or secure them outside or inside a kennel. Tell your agent about any pets that will remain at the house unsecured. Replace any dead light bulbs. The inspector will report the light fixture as not working. This may result in the buyer thinking there is a serious electrical problem. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also, replace any dead batteries. Replace any dirty HVAC (air conditioning) filters. They should fit securely. There should not be any debris, stored items, wood, etc against the foundation. These are likely to be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites. Remove items blocking access to air conditoning equipment, furnaces, electric service panels, water heaters, attics, etc. The home inspector will not move vehicles, furniture, paintings, luggage, books, beds, etc. Areas the inspector must inspect should not be locked. This includes attic doors or hatches, breaker boxes, closets, fence gates, etc. If an area must remain locked, let your agent know. Prune tree limbs 10 feet from the roof. Trim shrubs adjacent to the house to allow access and to forestall a report that conducive conditions exist for termites. Repair or replace broken or missing items. This includes doorknobs, latches, locks, screens, gutters, downspouts and chimney caps. Following these tips will make the inspection go faster and easier. There will be fewer repairs. Your buyer will feel more comfortable, the transaction will move ahead more smoothly and your agent will thank you.