Don’t consider an inspection of the home and property as a complete evaluation, but rather property evaluation on the day it is inspected, 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, energy audits, Radon gas testing, water testing, pool inspections, pest inspections, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a homeseller prior to listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by homeowners simply wishing to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your property:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), bare electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, etc.
2. Things that could lead to serious flaws – a beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof flashing leak that could get bigger, or damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Serious flaws, such as large cracks in the foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not supported or installed properly, etc. These items are pricey to fix, which we classify as systems needing over 2% of the purchase price to repair.
Your home inspector will advise you about what to do about these areas of concern. She may recommend an evaluation on more issues – by licensed or certified professionals who are specialists in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector may recommend you call a licensed building engineer if they find areas of the property that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency.
Home Inspections are merely done by a buyer when he or she signs an agreement, right?
This is patently false! As you will see when you keep reading, a home inspection may be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by a current homeowner, a proactive technique by home owners to produce their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the condition of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a several advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner will be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· A home inspection may help the home owner be much more objective as it pertains to setting a reasonable price on the home.
· The home owner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
· The home owner usually takes the report and make it into an advertising piece for the home.