Don’t consider a home inspection as a complete evaluation, but rather property evaluation at this point in time, considering normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include for extra, Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are conducted (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 owners simply wishing to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
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), exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, no safety railing on decks above 30 inches, etc.
2. Items that could lead to major defects – i.e., a beam that was not tied in to the structure properly, a roof flashing leak that could get bigger, or damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Major defects, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; building out of plumb or level; decks not supported or installed correctly, etc. These items are costly to repair, which we classify as systems requiring more than two percent of the buy price to repair.
Your property inspector should be able to advise you about what you should do about these areas of concern. She may recommend a formal evaluation on serious matters – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the defect areas. For example, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency.
Home Inspections are always paid for by a buyer after he or she signs a formal agreement, right?
This is not true! As you might find when you read on, a home inspection can be utilized for ad hoc inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by home owners to create their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to ascertain the problem of the potential home.
Sellers, in particular, can benefit from getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a some of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
· The homeowner is going to be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner will take the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the homeowner be more objective in regards to setting a fair price on the home.