Don’t consider a home inspection as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather property evaluation on the day it is inspected, taking into account normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include for extra, Radon testing, pest inspections, pool inspections, water testing, energy audits, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also paid for (less often) by a seller prior to listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wanting to keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay close attention to during a property inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, etc.
2. Things that could lead to major flaws – i.e. a roof leak that could grow, damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
3. Major flaws, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; building out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported correctly, etc. These are items that are expensive to repair, which we classify as systems requiring over two percent of the purchase price to repair.
Your home inspector should be able to counsel you on what to do about these problems. She may recommend a formal evaluation on issues – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector may advise you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if they find sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency and one that might cost thousands to repair.
Home Inspections are just conducted by a buyer once they sign a formal agreement, right?
This is patently false! As you might find whenever you read on, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to make their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the condition of the potential home.
Sellers, particularly, can take advantage of obtaining a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a some of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner is likely to be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it up for open house tours.
· A home inspection will help the homeowner be much more objective as it pertains to setting a reasonable price on the home.
· The homeowner will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The homeowner may take the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.