I have read a lot of inspection reports. Here is the pattern almost nobody outside this business notices: the reports that blow up deals are rarely the ones with one big problem. They are the ones with forty small ones.
A buyer reads a report page by page. They do not know that a missing outlet cover costs two dollars. They just see item 23 of 41, in red, with a photo. By item 30 they have stopped asking “is this house okay?” and started asking “what else did they not take care of?” That is the moment the repair request gets long — or the buyer gets cold feet.
So this Sunday’s homework is to walk your house the way a home inspector does and knock out the small stuff while it is still small. Most of it costs less than lunch.
1. Every Smoke and CO Detector
🚨 Press the Button in Every Room
Test each one. Replace anything that chirps, anything yellowed with age, and anything missing from a bedroom or hallway. If you have gas appliances or an attached garage, make sure there is a carbon monoxide detector on every level.
Cheap now: a few detectors from the hardware store. Expensive later: the first safety item on a report, which sets the tone for every page after it.
2. Outlets Near Water
⚡ Kitchen, Baths, Laundry, Garage, Outside
Inspectors look for GFCI protection at outlets near sinks and outdoors, and they test them. Push the test and reset buttons on the ones you have. If an outlet by a sink has no protection, or a GFCI will not reset, call an electrician — this is a small job for them, not a weekend project for you.
While you are at it, put a cover plate on every outlet and switch. A missing cover plate is a two-dollar item that shows up as an “exposed wiring” photo.
3. Downspouts and the Dirt Around the House
🌧 Where Does the Water Go?
Walk the outside. Every downspout should dump water several feet away from the foundation, not right beside it. Extensions and splash blocks are inexpensive. Then look at the soil: it should slope away from the house. If mulch beds or settled dirt have created a low spot against the wall, rake it back.
Cheap now: a few extensions and a rake. Expensive later: “evidence of moisture intrusion — recommend evaluation by a foundation contractor,” which is the sentence that ends deals on Southern Illinois clay.
4. Toilets, Tubs, and the Caulk Line
🚽 Rock It, Flush It, Look at the Seams
Grab each toilet and gently rock it. If it moves, it needs to be secured and possibly a new wax ring. Flush and listen for it running after it fills. Then look at the caulk around every tub, shower and sink — cracked or moldy caulk gets written up every time.
A loose toilet is a cheap fix today. A loose toilet that has been leaking into the subfloor for a year is not.
5. The Water Heater Discharge Pipe
🔥 One Pipe, Easy to Check
On the side of the water heater is a relief valve with a pipe running down toward the floor. Inspectors check that it is there, is the right material, and ends a few inches off the floor. If yours is missing, cut short, or capped, have a plumber correct it.
6. Handrails and Steps
🦷 Grab Every Railing
Stairs inside, porch steps, deck stairs, the basement steps nobody thinks about. Every one should have a solid handrail. Wiggle it. If it moves, tighten it. If there is no handrail where there should be one, add it.
7. Soft Wood Outside
🔨 Take a Screwdriver on the Walk
Press a screwdriver into window sills, door trim, fascia boards, and the bottom of the deck posts. If it sinks in, that wood is rotting. Small spots can be patched and painted; bigger ones should be replaced by a carpenter before winter.
Cheap now: a board and a quart of paint. Expensive later: an inspector who writes “wood rot observed” and a buyer who imagines it going all the way through the wall.
8. Windows and Doors That Stick
🪟 Open Every One
Inspectors open windows, especially in bedrooms, because a bedroom window is an emergency exit. Open and close every window and exterior door. Clean the tracks, lubricate what sticks, and replace torn screens. Note any foggy double-pane glass — that is a failed seal. You do not have to fix it, but you should know it is there before someone else points it out.
9. The Garage Door’s Safety Reverse
🚘 The Two-by-Four Test
Lay a piece of scrap wood flat under the garage door and close it. The door should touch it and reverse. Then wave something through the sensor beam while it is closing — it should stop and go back up. If either test fails, adjust the sensors or call a garage door company.
10. Burned-Out Bulbs and Dead Switches
💡 The One That Causes a Question Mark
An inspector flips a switch and nothing happens. They cannot tell if it is a dead bulb or a wiring problem, so they write “inoperable — further evaluation recommended.” Replace every burned-out bulb, and figure out what that mystery switch in the hallway actually does. If a switch or fixture truly does not work, have an electrician look at it now.
The Honest Version of Why This Works
None of this raises your list price. A new outlet cover does not appraise. What this list does is shorten the report — and a short report reads like a cared-for house. A buyer who gets through the inspection without a scare has no reason to reopen the price.
And to be clear, this is not a substitute for an inspection or a way around disclosure. If there is a real problem — water in the basement, a roof at the end of its life — disclose it and deal with it straight. This list is about the small stuff that should never have been on the report in the first place.
✅ Print This: The Inspector’s Ten
- Test every smoke and CO detector; replace old or missing ones
- Test GFCI outlets near water; cover plates on every outlet and switch
- Downspout extensions; soil sloping away from the foundation
- Secure loose toilets, fix running ones, recaulk tubs and sinks
- Check the water heater relief valve discharge pipe
- Tighten or add handrails on every set of steps
- Screwdriver test on sills, trim, fascia and deck posts
- Open every window and door; clean tracks, fix screens
- Garage door auto-reverse and sensor test
- Replace dead bulbs; figure out every mystery switch
🏠 Thinking About Listing This Winter or Spring?
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📱 Got a Question About Your House? Text Greg.
Not sure whether something on this list is worth fixing? Text Greg Holthaus directly — just tell him you saw his blog. He’ll give you a straight answer, match you with the right broker, and tell you honestly if the answer is “don’t worry about it.”
Text Greg · 618.925.8654
Who is Greg Holthaus?
Greg Holthaus is the Owner and Designated Managing Broker of Southern Illinois Realty Experts, with 25+ years in Southern Illinois real estate and more than 10,000 transactions closed. He leads a full-service operation — home sales, mortgage, title, and property management under one roof — with offices in Marion, Herrin, and Carbondale. Meet Greg ›
About this post: General homeowner guidance based on 25+ years of listing and closing homes across Southern Illinois. It is not a home inspection, not electrical, plumbing or structural advice, and not a statement of what any inspector, lender or code official will require — those vary by property and jurisdiction. Hire licensed professionals for electrical, plumbing, structural and gas work. Nothing here replaces the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report or your obligation to disclose known defects, and nothing here is a guarantee of sale price, closing date, or outcome. Want a specific read on your house? Ask us for a Comparative Market Analysis.