Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a complete evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property 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 a little extra of course, Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are used (less often) by a homeseller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by 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 close attention to during an inspection:
1. Serious flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not supported or installed correctly, etc. These items are costly to repair, which are systems needing over 1.9% of the buy price to fix.
2. Items that could lead to major flaws – i.e. damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, a roof flashing leak that could grow, or a beam that was not tied in to the structure properly.
3. Safety hazards, such as lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
Your property inspector should advise you on what you should do about these issues. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the defect areas. For example, your inspector may recommend you call a licensed structural or building engineer if they find sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency.
Home Inspections are paid for by a buyer when he or she signs an agreement, right?
This is not true! As you will discover when you read on, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by a current homeowner, a proactive technique by sellers to create their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the problem of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can take advantage of obtaining a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a some of the advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush following the contract is signed.
· The home owner will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The home owner will take the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the home owner become more objective as it pertains to setting a fair price on the home.