Preparing Your Home's Plumbing for a Pre-Sale Building Inspection

Are you planning to list your home for sale on the real estate market soon? If so, you have a lot of work to do including aspects of your property that are normally concealed and could be scrutinized by a potential buyer. Do you know what you should do or have done to ensure your property is ready for a pre-sale building inspection? We have made a list of the most important things that should be done when it comes to plumbing and those are:

1. Have Drains Checked

You will probably need to hire a contractor with the right equipment, but your drains need to be carefully inspected, particularly the inside of your drainage pipes. Sometimes all that it takes is a powerful flush to ensure that the drains are once again free flowing for many years into the future, but you may find that your drain is partially blocked. When you have your drains professionally inspected the contractor will usually clean the drains out at the same time. Drains that are slow and have issues might not be noticed by potential buyers, but a home inspector will point it out. Ensuring that your drains are working properly by having them inspected and cleaned ahead of any pre-sale building inspection can save you a lot of problems. It can also bring your attention to potential problems that should be dealt with right away, such as a cracked sewer line.

2. Check for and Repair Leaks

Most potential buyers are on the lookout for signs of problems including damp patches on ceilings. These are usually a sign of a leak issue and an indication that repairs need to be made. If the potential buyer were not planning on a home inspection, spotting a damp area could signal to them that they should have one done. If your faucets leak, they should be repaired quickly. Leaks lead to wasted water, higher water usage and ultimately, higher water costs. If a potential buyer finds a leak and asks that it be fixed, you should take care of it before the pre-sale inspection so that you can ensure it is working correctly. An inspector will often turn on multiple taps and flush the toilet at the same time to check water pressure. They can check for leaks and see how effective water proofing is when they run a shower with a closed door for between 5 and 10 minutes.

3. Divert Water Away from Your House

If your plumbing system has leaks and your gutters are clogged or you have short downspouts, this can all lead to your home’s drainage experiencing issues. When storms hit, you rely on your home’s drainage systems to ensure that excess water does not damage your roof, walls, foundation or the landscaped areas around your home. Potential buyers will be able to know through a building inspection report whether proper drainage systems are in place to prevent damage to your home and property.

4. Inspect Water Heater

If your water heater is corroded on the inside, is not the right size for your home or has a faulty thermostat, the unit can pose a potential problem. You will need to perform some basic maintenance checks on the water heater ahead of any home inspection. Ensure the unit is not leaking and that the anode rod is in good working order. If it needs to be replaced, take care of it right away and test the relief valve to ensure that the thermostat is working correctly.

5. Update Plumbing Fixtures

If your plumbing fixtures are out of date, they may use too much water or waste water. You will know right away if you have leaky faucets or a toilet that runs continuously. Perform your own audit of every plumbing fixture in your home such as toilets, bathtubs, showers and garbage disposals. If your fixtures are in good condition and well looked after, this will help your inspection to go smoothly. Your home’s fixtures should comply with any local area requirements for water saving fixtures or it may be more difficult to sell your home if it is not in compliance.

Buyer Assurance

Every potential buyer has concerns about a property that they have no familiarity with; however, if you carry out a plumbing pre-inspection you can add to their peace of mind towards a potential sale. When you are proactive it puts a potential buyer at ease and presents one less item that they must worry about.

Any drain cleaning expert will provide you with a detailed report on the condition that they found your drainage system in once they conclude their inspection. If you want to put a buyer at ease, you can provide them with a copy of the report when you offer them other property disclosure paperwork.

Potential buyers want to know that every part of the property is in good condition and that there will not be any unexpected large expenses once they take over ownership of the property. Once you have worked to ensure that your plumbing is in good shape, that is one less thing that a buyer must worry about.

Image courtesy https://refinedplumbingsunshinecoast.com.au/

If you are planning to sell your home, it is always advisable to ensure that your plumbing system and fixtures are all in good working order. If you need to replace some items and make some repairs, go ahead and do that because the result is that the buyer will have better confidence to enter a contract to purchase your home. That is the ultimate result that you want, so having the plumbing pre-inspected with you making some simple improvements and updates is well worth it for the signed contract that you will enter. If you have any doubt, put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and imagine buying a home that has some plumbing issues that might cause problems for you in the future. Simple repairs can take care of all these issues.