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After size, style, and location, a home buyer's primary concern is the condition of the home's basic structure and major mechanical systems. Most buyers do not want to invest a great deal of money correcting problems in such critical areas.

A pre-listing home inspection of the visible and accessible home components can reveal most of these problems, and include recommended repairs, if needed, on the following major items:

• Roof structure and covering.
• Foundation, basement, and/or crawl space.
• Central heating and air conditioning systems.
• Electrical system.
• Plumbing system.

A number of maintenance improvements are relatively easy and inexpensive to make, yet they can substantially improve a home's appearance, efficiency, and comfort. A professional home inspector may make helpful maintenance suggestions, such as:

• Trim trees and shrubs which touch or overhang the house.
• Apply new caulking and weather stripping as needed around windows and doors.
• Clean gutters of debris and leaves; repair or replace cracked or broken gutters, downspouts, and extensions to ensure proper drainage.
• Replace bathroom caulk or grouting where necessary to prevent seepage and improve appearance.
• Ventilate closed basements and crawl spaces, or install a dehumidifier, to prevent excessive moisture build-up.
• Regrade soil around the foundation, as needed to keep water away from the house.
• Replace dirty filters in the heating and air conditioning systems.
• Have the heating and air conditioning systems professionally serviced.
• Have chimneys professionally cleaned, and install chimney hoods or caps as needed.

Fixing even minor items can go a long way toward improving that important first impression of our home. Here are some typical improvements which might be suggested by the home inspector's findings:

• Repair leaky faucets.
• Tighten loose doorknobs.
• Replace damaged screens.
• Replace broken panes of glass.
• Replace burned-out light bulbs.
• Secure loose railings.
• Repair and coat driveway.
• Patch holes or cracks in walls and ceilings, then repaint.
• Repair peeling wallpaper.

Home inspectors also pay attention to items relating to protecting the home and its occupants from danger. They can alert you to important safety precautions which home buyers will appreciate, such as:

• Installing smoke detectors on each level and inside each bedroom.
• Installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) in "wet" areas, such as kitchen counters tops, bathrooms, and exterior outlets.
• Keeping flammable products away from heaters, water heaters, and fireplaces.
• Installing Carbon Monoxide detectors on each level.

An attractive, clean, and neat home will appeal to a buyer's emotions. In addition to making repairs such as those listed above, remember to:

• Keep the lawn mowed and the house neat.
• Clean the exterior walls and trim; repaint if necessary.
• Open windows shades and curtains to create a bright, inviting atmosphere.
• Keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean, since buyers scrutinize these areas.

It's a good idea to assemble in advance various house records that can be used to answer questions from buyers and home inspectors. The Home Buyer Checklist identifies some of the important factors to consider when choosing a home. In addition to an affordable sales price, they will also want to be sure that the neighborhood and house meet the needs of their family.