Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a complete evaluation, but rather property evaluation at this point in time, taking into account normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the property can also include for extra of course Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a seller before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, 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 attention to during a property inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, etc.
2. Major defects, such as large cracks in the foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported correctly, etc. These are items that are costly to repair, which we classify as systems requiring over 2% of the buy price to repair.
3. Items that could lead to major defects – 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.
Your inspector should be able to counsel you about what you should do about these issues. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency and one that might cost thousands of dollars to fix
Home Inspections are always conducted by a buyer after they sign a formal contract, right?
This is not true! As you will see whenever you read on, a home inspection can be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by sellers to produce their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the problem of the potential home.
Sellers, specifically, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a several advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The homeowner will be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner may take the report and allow it to be into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the homeowner be much more objective when it comes to setting a good price on the home.