🏠 How to Beat the Home Inspection—Before It Even Happens

You’ve cleaned the counters, staged the living room, maybe even updated your landscaping. But guess what?

That one burnt-out lightbulb?
The stuck window in the guest room?
The slightly dirty air filter?

Those tiny things can turn into huge red flags during a home inspection—and cost you thousands in repairs, credits, or worse…a canceled deal.

🚨 What Buyers See (That You Don’t)

A home inspection isn’t just about the roof, the plumbing, or the HVAC. It’s about perception. One small issue—like a sticky doorknob or a foggy window—can make buyers think:

“What else is wrong with this place?”

And once doubt sets in? It snowballs.

We’ve seen it happen. A perfectly good home gets flagged for a dozen minor things, and suddenly the buyer wants $7,500 off the sale price for what should’ve cost $500 to fix.

🔧 The Pre-Inspection Fix List That Saves Deals

Here’s what you should be doing before any buyer sets foot in your home:

Replace every burnt-out lightbulb
Make sure all windows open, close, and lock smoothly
Clean or replace your air filters
Run every appliance (yes, even the ones you don’t use)
Fix or remove anything that doesn’t work properly

Bonus Tip: Have an HVAC tech service your system, especially if it’s over 10 years old. Keep the receipt—it could mean the difference between “older system” and “well-maintained system.”

🧾 Control the Report, Control the Sale

Want to go even further? Get a pre-listing inspection. It flips the power dynamic. You find the issues, fix what matters, and disclose anything else on your own terms.

At our firm, we include a pre-listing inspection with our full-service package—so there are no surprises, no fire drills, and no panic when the buyer’s report comes in.

🧠 Remember: Buyers Aren’t Just Inspecting Your Home. They’re Inspecting YOU.

They want to feel confident. They want to believe the home has been cared for. And if the inspection report looks sloppy or neglected, that confidence evaporates.

Want to make sure your next inspection doesn’t become a negotiation nightmare?

Let’s keep you in control of your sale, not the buyer’s inspector.

Check out our video we made on this topic here!

🎁 BONUS: Grab your free copy of the Sunshine State Handbook — it’s packed with home selling tips, neighborhood insights, and real Florida advice you won’t find on Zillow.

Download It Here!

You’ve got this,
Tom McNamara
Florida Real Estate Insider

P.S. Want a custom walkthrough of what you should (and shouldn’t) fix before listing? Book a free Zoom consultation with us today. Before your neighbor does. 😎

📞 Let’s connect. You can reply to this or call! 407-754-6412