Checklist to Prepare your Home to Ace an Inspection – Part 1

Selling your home in Alaska is an exciting process. Now is the time to work with your real estate agent and prepare your home for sale. Together you can attract the best offer and put that toward your new dream home.

Taking the time to get ahead of any maintenance issues or repairs before listing will help you to find any potential issues and repair what you can before listing. It will also help you be aware of what a potential buyer could find and want to negotiate out of your sale price.

We’ve compiled a short checklist of things to look for to have a comprehensive view of your property.

1.  Check your heating and cooling system – It’s important to check your heating and cooling system to be sure that it’s operating well. Check for good air flow on forced hot air systems. Check your flues for any open seams and the slopes up to chimney connection. Make sure there are separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal. Take the time to look for rust around your cooling unit and check that all your air filters are clean. There should be no combustion gas odor, no asbestos on heating pipes, water pipes or air ducts. The ductwork should be in good condition.
2. Check your Electrical – Check the service panel and make sure you have adequate capacity; all your cables are attached to the panel with cable connectors and that no fuses or breakers are overheating. Check your visible wiring and make sure they are in good condition with no ‘knob-and-tube” wiring or exposed splices. Your cables should be secured and protected.
3. Check your Plumbing – Check your visible pipes for evidence of leaks or damage as well as stains on materials near the pipes. Your drainpipes should slop slightly toward outlet to septic/sewage system. Check your water heater for signs of rust. Make sure that it is vented properly and is sized correctly to produce enough hot water for the number of bedrooms in the house. The water temperature should be between 118 and 125 Fahrenheit. Your water pump should not short cycle. Be sure that your galvanized pipes don’t restrict water flow. Test that your well water is acceptable.
4. Check your Basement/Mechanical Room – Check your basement or mechanical room for evidence of moisture. Check your exposed foundation for stains or major cracks as well as flaking or efflorescence. Check the insulations at rim/band joists. Inspect your visible structural wood for signs of sagging, damage, decay or stains. Be sure that you don’t have any insect damage and your sills are attached to the foundation with anchor bolts.
5. Check safety features – Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are where required by local ordinances. Check your stairway treads and make sure your risers are solid. The stair handrails should be in good condition and in all places needed. Check that your garage door opener operates efficiently and stops for obstacles.

These are just a few items on the inspection checklist. In our next article we will cover more items that you can go over to make sure that your home is in top listing ready condition. If you’re considering selling your home here in the Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, and the Mat-Su Valley we are happy to help you answer any questions that you might have.