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| A Handy 14-Point Indoor Home Inspection Checklist By Noel Peebles |
What Will A Buyer Think Of Your House?
You must always look at your house through a buyer’s eyes. Try and see your home as the buyer would for the
very first time. I know this can be a hard thing to do especially if you have become so use to that red wine stain on
the carpet. You probably don’t even see it anymore, but it could be the very first thing a potential buyer notices
when walking through the door.
A Handy 14-Point Indoor Home Inspection Checklist
The first thing to do is clean the house from top to bottom. Dust every nook and cranny. Here is a checklist to work
through:
Home Inspection Checklist #1.
Get rid of items that you never use. Check the garage, attic and every room.
You must always look at your house through a buyer’s eyes. Try and see your home as the buyer would for the
very first time. I know this can be a hard thing to do especially if you have become so use to that red wine stain on
the carpet. You probably don’t even see it anymore, but it could be the very first thing a potential buyer notices
when walking through the door.
A Handy 14-Point Indoor Home Inspection Checklist
The first thing to do is clean the house from top to bottom. Dust every nook and cranny. Here is a checklist to work
through:
Home Inspection Checklist #1.
Get rid of items that you never use. Check the garage, attic and every room.
Home Inspection
Checklist #2.
Organize rooms to make
them look uncluttered.
Rearrange furniture to
make each room look as
spacious as possible.
Home Inspection
Checklist #3.
Put anything you don’t
need in storage – hire a
storage unit. Any pieces of
furniture that look
“comfortably warn” should
be taken off show.
Checklist #2.
Organize rooms to make
them look uncluttered.
Rearrange furniture to
make each room look as
spacious as possible.
Home Inspection
Checklist #3.
Put anything you don’t
need in storage – hire a
storage unit. Any pieces of
furniture that look
“comfortably warn” should
be taken off show.
Home Inspection Checklist #4.
After you have cleaned the walls and checked for fingerprints, smudges, dents etc do another careful inspection. If
the walls are still not 100%, consider a fresh coat of paint. Check woodwork, tiles, vinyl, wallpaper etc for signs of
wear and tear.
Home Inspection Checklist #5.
Check windows and window-sills carefully. Look for chipped paint, signs of leaks etc. Even check regularly for
dead flies. Consider taking down the curtains or drapes for washing or laundering.
Home Inspection Checklist #6.
Wax any linoleum flooring. Clean around the edges and make all the floors look sparkling clean.
Home Inspection Checklist #7.
Get rugs and carpets shampooed or hire one of those “do it yourself” carpet-cleaning machines. It is better to
spend a few dollars now rather than have the buyer ask for a “new carpet allowance” as a condition of purchase.
Home Inspection Checklist #8.
Look carefully at the color coordination throughout the house. Does the color scheme flow? Does anything clash
horribly with the rest of the house?
Home Inspection Checklist #9.
Check for leaking faucets, running toilet systems etc. Strange noises or sounds of water flowing can spook a
buyer. Small things can make a buyer wonder what is wrong or not working.
Home Inspection Checklist #10.
Bathrooms need to be cleaned as if you could eat off any surface. They must be spotless! Clean baths, showers,
toilets and sinks. Replace the shower curtain if it has mould on it. Look for water stains or rust in basins or around
the fixtures. Check that the chalking around the shower, tub and sink is in immaculate condition. If not – replace it!
Home Inspection Checklist #11.
Organize the closets to make them look spacious. Store your out of season clothes in the storage unit you have
hired. It is important that closets look as large and as spacious as possible. Also make them smell nice (not of foot
odor from smelly shoes).
Home Inspection Checklist #12.
Look at replacing light switch surrounds. Check that light shades are clean, dust free and in keeping with the décor
Home Inspection Checklist #13.
When people visit a strange house their senses are alert to anything unusual – sights, sounds and SMELLS. If you
have a smoker in the house, then make sure your home doesn’t smell like an ashtray. Spray some neutral air-
freshener or use one of those plug-in types. Maybe the old trick of using the smell of baking or freshly brewed
coffee might be worth considering.
Home Inspection Checklist #14.
If you have pets, then put them outside when a prospective buyer calls. Check for fleas, cat fur, dog hairs etc on
furniture and flooring. Also be aware that some people hate animals and some people are easily frightened and
intimidated by a barking or over boisterous dog.
A final comment about home inspections when selling your home...
A fresh coat of paint is often the easiest, cheapest and most dramatic improvement you can make to any room. If
you do nothing else, at least consider a paint touch-up. I’m sure that you’ll get more than your investment back.
© Noel Peebles, Market Leaders ebooks.
After you have cleaned the walls and checked for fingerprints, smudges, dents etc do another careful inspection. If
the walls are still not 100%, consider a fresh coat of paint. Check woodwork, tiles, vinyl, wallpaper etc for signs of
wear and tear.
Home Inspection Checklist #5.
Check windows and window-sills carefully. Look for chipped paint, signs of leaks etc. Even check regularly for
dead flies. Consider taking down the curtains or drapes for washing or laundering.
Home Inspection Checklist #6.
Wax any linoleum flooring. Clean around the edges and make all the floors look sparkling clean.
Home Inspection Checklist #7.
Get rugs and carpets shampooed or hire one of those “do it yourself” carpet-cleaning machines. It is better to
spend a few dollars now rather than have the buyer ask for a “new carpet allowance” as a condition of purchase.
Home Inspection Checklist #8.
Look carefully at the color coordination throughout the house. Does the color scheme flow? Does anything clash
horribly with the rest of the house?
Home Inspection Checklist #9.
Check for leaking faucets, running toilet systems etc. Strange noises or sounds of water flowing can spook a
buyer. Small things can make a buyer wonder what is wrong or not working.
Home Inspection Checklist #10.
Bathrooms need to be cleaned as if you could eat off any surface. They must be spotless! Clean baths, showers,
toilets and sinks. Replace the shower curtain if it has mould on it. Look for water stains or rust in basins or around
the fixtures. Check that the chalking around the shower, tub and sink is in immaculate condition. If not – replace it!
Home Inspection Checklist #11.
Organize the closets to make them look spacious. Store your out of season clothes in the storage unit you have
hired. It is important that closets look as large and as spacious as possible. Also make them smell nice (not of foot
odor from smelly shoes).
Home Inspection Checklist #12.
Look at replacing light switch surrounds. Check that light shades are clean, dust free and in keeping with the décor
Home Inspection Checklist #13.
When people visit a strange house their senses are alert to anything unusual – sights, sounds and SMELLS. If you
have a smoker in the house, then make sure your home doesn’t smell like an ashtray. Spray some neutral air-
freshener or use one of those plug-in types. Maybe the old trick of using the smell of baking or freshly brewed
coffee might be worth considering.
Home Inspection Checklist #14.
If you have pets, then put them outside when a prospective buyer calls. Check for fleas, cat fur, dog hairs etc on
furniture and flooring. Also be aware that some people hate animals and some people are easily frightened and
intimidated by a barking or over boisterous dog.
A final comment about home inspections when selling your home...
A fresh coat of paint is often the easiest, cheapest and most dramatic improvement you can make to any room. If
you do nothing else, at least consider a paint touch-up. I’m sure that you’ll get more than your investment back.
© Noel Peebles, Market Leaders ebooks.
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