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A pre-sale home inspection should also alert home sellers to a variety of other maintenance improvements that can enhance a home's appearance and marketability, such as: trimming trees and shrubs which touch or overhang the house; new caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors; cleaning gutters of debris and leaves; repairing or replacing cracked or broken gutters, downspouts, and extensions to ensure proper drainage; and replacing bathroom caulk or grouting where necessary to prevent more seepage and improve appearance.
Fixing even minor items can go a long way toward improving that important first impression of a home, so home sellers should remember to repair leaky faucets, tighten loose doorknobs, replace damaged screens, and replace broken panes of glass. Safety issues will also be addressed by the home inspector including; installing smoke detectors on each level; installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) in "wet" areas, such as kitchen counter tops, bathrooms and exterior outlets; keeping flammable products away from heaters, water heaters, and fireplaces.
In a recent survey of its members, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) found that the most frequent problems listed on an inspection report was improper grading and drainage around the exterior of the house which can cause basement moisture problems and sometimes even soil erosion which can sometimes lead to foundation structural failure. Another frequent problem area listed was the electrical system, including situations such as insufficient electrical overload protection, and amateur wiring situations which can be dangerous. Though these problems are not usually costly to fix, they may significantly influence a buyer's purchasing decision. Roof damage and mechanical problems with the heating and air conditioning systems were also near the top of the list for frequently reported problems.
