What Your DFW Inspector Wishes You Knew Before the Inspection Starts

DFW Home Inspection Prep

If you’re buying or selling a home in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a little preparation before inspection day goes a long way. In busy markets like Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Arlington, being inspection-ready helps everything run smoothly, keeps timelines intact, and allows your inspector to evaluate every system in one visit.

When the home is properly prepared, you get clearer answers, faster reporting, and fewer follow-ups during your option period.

1. Utilities must be fully on

For a home inspection in DFW, all utilities need to be active: electricity, water, and gas.

• No power means we can’t test outlets, panels, HVAC systems, or appliances.
• No water means plumbing fixtures, water heaters, irrigation systems, and sewer-related components can’t be evaluated.
• Gas off means furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and ranges can’t be inspected.

This is one of the most common causes of incomplete inspections in North Texas, especially on vacant or recently flipped homes. While we know it’s not always possible for the utilities to be on, and may be out of the buyer’s control, it’s worth going through extra effort to make sure they can be whenever possible. We cannot properly inspect a system that we cannot test.

2. Clear attic access matters more than you think

Attic access must be unlocked, unobstructed, and safe to enter.

In DFW homes, attics often reveal insulation issues, roof structure concerns, ventilation problems, and HVAC duct conditions. If the attic hatch is blocked by furniture, shelving, or stored items, critical areas may be excluded from the report.

3. Garage and electrical panels must be accessible

Texas standards require clear access to electrical panels. That means no locked doors, no stacked boxes, and no shelving blocking the panel.

In many DFW garages, especially in newer developments, storage systems are installed directly in front of panels. If we can’t access them, those systems cannot be fully inspected.

4. Pool and spa equipment needs to be unlocked

If the property has a pool or spa, the pump, filter, heater, and control systems must be accessible.

Locked pool gates, sealed equipment boxes, or buried shutoff valves delay inspections and can require a return visit. Pool inspections are one of the easiest add-ons to complete in one visit when access is ready.

5. Pets must be secured

We love animals (we have one as our mascot!), but safety comes first, for you and for our team.

Many pets are territorial, and as much as they love their owners, they also have an ingrained determination to protect their home. That desire to protect plus presence of unknown humans can result in unexpected aggressiveness.

Loose dogs, aggressive pets, or pets blocking access to rooms, yards, or garages can prevent full inspection coverage. Please secure pets before arrival so the inspection can move efficiently.

6. One appointment is better than multiple trips

In the DFW market, buyers often add sewer scopes, termite inspections, pool inspections, or infrared scans after the initial booking. When access isn’t ready, those add-ons may require separate trips and additional coordination.

This is where the Convenience Advantage™ from Semper Fi Home Inspections makes a difference. One appointment, one report, and one coordinated visit means fewer delays during tight option periods and smoother scheduling for agents and clients.

Why prep matters in DFW real estate transactions

Option periods move fast in North Texas. Missed access or inactive utilities can compress timelines, delay negotiations, or force rushed decisions.

Proper prep allows us to complete:

• The full inspection in one visit
• Same-day reporting
• Optional add-ons without return trips

That’s how buyers and agents stay on schedule in competitive DFW markets.

If you’re scheduling a home inspection anywhere in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a few minutes of prep before inspection day can save days of frustration later.