First-Time Home Seller: Home Inspection Issues to Watch For

Never sold a home before and wondering whether to get a home inspection done before listing? Here's why it's worth the time.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

Almost every buyer whose offer is accepted will do an inspection, often at their lender's recommendation. The home inspection covers general condition and mechanical systems, while the pest inspection focuses on wood-destroying organisms, termites, dry rot, water damage. Either can make or break a deal, so addressing issues before you're under contract saves real time and money, and knowing likely repair costs upfront gives you a much clearer picture of your true proceeds.

Common issues worth checking ahead of time: working outlets, GFCIs, and switches, with fresh bulbs everywhere so nothing reads as an electrical problem that isn't one. No leaky faucets or signs of water damage under cabinets. Clean or replaced air filters and vents. Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with fresh batteries, actually required at point of sale in California.

Also worth a look: doorknobs, locks, window screens, gutters, and roof tiles. Dry rot around exterior door frames, window trim, or siding, common in older wood with weather exposure, but usually easy to address. Clear stored items from crawl spaces (they read as conducive conditions for termites), trim tree limbs within 10 feet of the house, make sure doors and garage door safety sensors work, and recaulk around tubs, showers, and countertops.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. Working through this list before your inspection is a real investment in a smoother sale.