Don’t consider a home inspection as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property 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, Radon testing, pest inspections, pool inspections, water testing, energy audits, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a homeseller before listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wanting to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay attention to during an inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), bare electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
2. Items that could lead to serious flaws – a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof leak that could grow, or damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed correctly, etc. These are items that are expensive to repair, which are items requiring over 2% of the buy price to repair.
Your property inspector will advise you about what you should do about these problems. She may recommend a formal evaluation on more matters – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will recommend you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds areas of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency.
Home inspections are always performed by a buyer when he or she signs a formal agreement, right?
This isn’t true! As you might find whenever you keep reading, a home inspection can be utilized for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the situation of the potential home.
Sellers, in particular, can take advantage of getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a few of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner knows the home! The home inspector will have a way to have answers to his/her questions on the history of any problems they find.
· A home inspection may help the homeowner be more objective in regards to setting a good price on the home.
· The homeowner will take the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.
· The homeowner is going to be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.