How to Prepare for a Home Inspection: The 10-Point Checklist We Hand to Realtors
Selling a home can already feel like a lot to manage. Then the inspection is scheduled, and you may wonder what needs to be done before the inspector arrives.
That is why we created our “Preparing for a Home Inspection” handout. It is the actual sheet we give to listing agents in the Oklahoma City area so sellers have a clear, practical list instead of being left guessing.
The goal is not to make your home perfect. A home inspection is meant to document the condition of the home, including everything from simple repairs to significant safety or maintenance concerns. But a little preparation can help prevent avoidable problems.
When the home is ready, you may have:
- Fewer surprises during the inspection
- Fewer preventable items to negotiate
- A cleaner, more complete report
- Less chance of delays caused by inaccessible areas or systems
- A smoother path toward closing
Use this 10-point checklist before inspection day.
1. Provide Access to Every Major System
An inspector needs access not only to the living areas, but also to the furnace, water heater, air conditioning equipment, attic, crawlspace, and other parts of the home.
Before the appointment, check whether these systems are located inside closets, behind doors, in the attic, or in the crawlspace. Make sure the inspector can reach them safely.
Access matters because equipment that cannot be reached may not be fully inspected. That can lead to an incomplete report, a return visit, or additional time and expense for everyone involved.
In Oklahoma, fall and winter weather can bring extended periods of freezing temperatures. Before cold weather arrives, make sure your furnace and water heater are reachable and ready to be evaluated. It is also helpful to make sure exterior faucets and related plumbing areas are easy to access.
2. Clear Items Blocking Equipment and Panels
Remove stored items, boxes, furniture, and other belongings that block the electrical service panel, HVAC equipment, water heater, plumbing access, or other service areas.
You do not need to empty the entire home. Focus on creating a safe path and enough working room around the systems the inspector must examine.
Blocked equipment creates more than an inconvenience. It can prevent the inspector from seeing important connections, shutoffs, labels, or signs of leakage. Clearing these areas ahead of time helps the inspection move efficiently and gives the inspector a better opportunity to document what is actually there.
3. Open the Garage and Make Equipment Reachable
On inspection day, the garage door should be open, and the equipment inside the garage should be reachable.
Pay particular attention to:
- The water heater
- The electrical or utility panel
- Water shutoff valves
- GFCI resets
- Garage walls and ceiling areas
- The garage door and opener
If stored items are piled around these areas, move them before the inspector arrives. A garage can become a convenient storage space, but items stacked in front of equipment may prevent a complete inspection.
A clear garage also makes it easier to identify loose connections, damaged components, missing covers, drainage concerns, and other conditions that may need attention.
4. Unlock Attics, Crawlspaces, Gates, and Panels
Unlock every area the inspector needs to enter or examine. This may include:
- Attic doors and hatches
- Crawlspace entrances
- Electrical service panels
- Utility closets
- Interior closets containing HVAC equipment
- Fence gates
- Exterior storage areas
If a key is required, leave it where the agent or inspector can access it. Do not assume someone will be able to find a spare key at the last minute.
Locked areas can result in a note that the area was not inspected. That does not necessarily mean a problem exists, but it may create uncertainty for the buyer and lead to a request for a follow-up inspection.
5. Keep Utilities On and Pilot Lights Burning
The home’s utility services should be on so the inspector can operate and evaluate the major systems. This includes electricity, water, and gas when those services are present.
If the home has gas appliances, make sure pilot lights are burning when it is safe to do so. The furnace, water heater, air conditioning system, plumbing fixtures, electrical components, and other systems need available utilities to be tested within the scope of the inspection.
If utilities are disconnected, the report may have to identify systems as not tested. That can create delays and may require a return visit after the services are restored.
6. Secure Pets Before the Inspection
Pets are part of the family, but they can make an inspection more difficult or unsafe if they are loose in the home.
Ideally, pets should be removed from the premises or secured in a safe area away from the inspection. Be sure to tell your real estate agent about any pets at the property.
This includes dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other animals. Even a friendly pet may become stressed when an unfamiliar person moves through the home, attic, garage, or crawlspace areas.
A calm, secure environment helps the inspector work carefully and helps protect your pets from accidentally escaping through an open door or gate.
7. Replace Burned-Out Light Bulbs
Walk through the home and replace burned-out bulbs before the inspection.
A light that does not operate may be recorded as “light did not operate.” That wording does not automatically mean there is an electrical defect, but it may suggest a problem that needs further evaluation.
Replacing a bulb is a small task that can prevent unnecessary uncertainty. Check ceiling lights, closets, garages, attic areas, exterior fixtures, and other accessible locations.
If a fixture still does not work after the bulb is replaced, let your agent know. The issue may be a switch, fixture, wiring connection, or another component that should be addressed before the inspection if possible.
8. Clear Debris and Wood from the Foundation
Remove stored items, debris, leaves, and stacked wood from around the foundation area.
Wood piles, cardboard, landscaping debris, and other stored materials can hide the foundation and make the exterior more difficult to inspect. They may also be cited as conditions conducive to wood-destroying insects because they provide shelter, moisture, or food sources near the home.
Keep firewood elevated and away from the foundation when possible. Clear vegetation and stored materials so the inspector can view the foundation, siding, vents, drainage areas, and lower portions of the exterior.
This is a practical maintenance step whether or not you are selling. A clear perimeter helps you notice moisture, pest activity, damaged siding, or foundation concerns earlier.
9. Trim Trees and Shrubs Away from the Home
Trim tree limbs so they are approximately 10 feet away from the roof. Trim shrubs so they are approximately 1 foot away from the house.
Overgrown vegetation can obstruct the inspection and hide the roof, siding, windows, foundation, service lines, and other exterior components. Limbs may also rub against roofing materials or create a pathway for pests and moisture.
Keeping vegetation trimmed makes the home easier to maintain and gives the inspector a clearer view of the exterior. It also helps prevent hazards around utility lines and service equipment.
Do not take unnecessary risks while trimming trees. If a limb is large, high, or near a service line, use a qualified professional.
10. Repair Broken or Missing Items
Before the inspection, look for obvious broken or missing items and take care of the manageable repairs.
Examples include:
- Broken doorknobs
- Damaged locks and latches
- Cracked windowpanes
- Torn or missing screens
- Loose gutters and downspouts
- Missing chimney caps
- Damaged exterior fixtures
In the Oklahoma City area, we commonly see weather-related wear on exterior components. Homes here typically use 5-inch aluminum gutters rather than plastic gutters because of hail exposure. Make sure gutters are clear, firmly attached, and connected to downspouts before the inspection.
Also check that downspouts direct water away from the foundation. Small exterior repairs can help prevent water concerns and make the home easier to evaluate.
You do not need to complete every cosmetic improvement before selling. Prioritize safety, water management, access, and basic function first.
Buyers Benefit from Preparation, Too
Although this checklist is written mainly for sellers, buyers benefit when a home is accessible and systems are operating normally.
A prepared home allows the inspector to gather better information and explain findings more clearly. Buyers can then make decisions based on the actual condition of the property rather than avoidable access notes or systems that could not be tested.
At Arrowhead Home Inspections, we provide a comprehensive visual inspection, clear documentation, and a client walkthrough designed to help you understand the home. You can also review our sample inspection report to see how findings are organized.
Start with a Simple Plan
A few days before the inspection, walk through this list with your real estate agent. Clear access areas, turn on utilities, secure pets, replace burned-out bulbs, remove foundation debris, trim vegetation, and address obvious broken items.
These steps cannot guarantee that the inspector will find no concerns. Every home has a history, and every inspection is intended to report conditions honestly. But preparation can reduce avoidable issues and help keep the transaction moving.
Arrowhead Home Inspections is led by Edward Hagstrom, an InterNACHI Certified Master Inspector with more than 30 years of high-stakes inspection experience across the military and Department of Defense. Our approach is thorough, educational, and focused on helping you understand what matters.
Every inspection includes our free 100-page Home Maintenance Book, which gives you practical guidance for caring for the property over time. We also provide a free downloadable Homebuyers Tips Booklet to help make the real estate process easier to navigate.
When you are ready, schedule your home inspection or contact Arrowhead Home Inspections at (405) 210-8452.
Inspected Once, Inspected Right!