Don’t consider a home inspection as a complete 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 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 also done (less often) by a seller before listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by owners simply wanting to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your home:
1. Safety hazards, such as exposed electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), etc.
2. Items that could lead to major defects – i.e. a beam that was not tied 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 foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed correctly, and others. These items are pricey to repair, which we classify as entire systems requiring more than two percent of the buy price to repair.
Your property inspector should be able to advise you on what to do about these issues. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on serious matters – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds areas of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency.
Home Inspections are done by a buyer after he or she signs a formal contract, right?
This is false! As you will see whenever you read on, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to ascertain the condition of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can benefit from finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a several advantages for the seller:
· The seller will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The seller is likely to be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it down for open house tours.
· The seller will take the report and make it into a marketing piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the seller be more objective as it pertains to setting a good price on the home.