Don’t consider a home inspection as an exhaustive 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 home can also include for extra, pest inspections, pool inspections, energy audits, Radon testing, water testing, energy audits, and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also used (less often) by a homeseller before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home 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 home inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of safety railing on decks above 30 inches, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), exposed electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
2. Things that could lead to major flaws – a beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof flashing leak that could grow larger, or damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Major flaws, such as large differential cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported correctly, etc. These items are pricey to fix, which we classify as entire systems requiring more than 2% of the purchase price to repair.
Your inspector will counsel you about what you should do about these issues. He may recommend an evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For example, your inspector will advise you call a licensed building engineer if they find sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency.
Home inspections are paid for by a buyer when he or she signs a contract, right?
This is patently false! As you might find whenever you keep reading, a home inspection can be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool with a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the condition of the potential home.
Homeowners, in particular, can benefit from getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a several advantages for the seller:
· The seller could make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush following the contract is signed.
· The seller will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The seller usually takes the report and allow it to be into a marketing piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the seller be much more objective when it comes to setting a reasonable price on the home.