Don’t consider a home inspection 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. A home inspection can also include, for extra fees, pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a home seller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by homeowners simply wanting to keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your home:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, etc.
2. Items that could lead to serious flaws – i.e., damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, a roof leak that could grow, or a beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
3. Major 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 entire systems needing over 2% of the buy price to repair.
Your home inspector will advise you on what to do about these issues. He may recommend a formal evaluation on matters – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the problem areas. For example, your inspector may recommend you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural problem.
Home inspections are merely paid for by a buyer when they sign a contract, right?
This is false! As you will see once you keep reading, a home inspection can be utilized for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by way of a current homeowner, a proactive technique by sellers to produce their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the problem of the potential home.
Homeowners, specifically, can take advantage of obtaining a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a some of the advantages for the seller:
· The seller could make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The seller will be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The seller may take the report and ensure it is into an advertising 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.