Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a final evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property on the day it is inspected, considering normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the property can also include for a little extra of course, pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a home seller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wishing to keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your property:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, no safety railing on decks above 30 inches, etc.
2. Things that could lead to serious flaws – a roof flashing leak that could grow larger, damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied in to the structure properly.
3. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported correctly, and others. These items are pricey to repair, which we classify as items needing more than 2% of the buy price to repair.
Your inspector should be able to advise you about what you should do about these problems. He/she may recommend an evaluation on matters – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For example, your inspector may advise you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds sections of the property that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a serious structural problem and one that might cost thousands of dollars to fix
Home Inspections are merely conducted by a buyer when they sign a formal contract, right?
This is simply not true! As you will discover whenever you continue reading, a home inspection can be used for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by a current homeowner, a proactive technique by home owners to produce their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can benefit from getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a few of the advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner may make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
· The home owner will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it down for open house tours.
· The home owner may take the report and make it into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the home owner be more objective in regards to setting a good price on the home.