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 a little extra of course, pest inspections, pool inspections, energy audits, Radon testing, water testing, energy audits, and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a homeseller prior to listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by homeowners simply wishing to keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay close attention to during a home inspection:
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. Serious defects, such as large cracks in the foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported correctly, and others. These are items that are pricey to fix, which are systems needing more than two percent of the buy price to repair.
3. Things that could lead to serious defects – a roof flashing leak that could get bigger, damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a beam that was not tied in to the structure properly.
Your property inspector will advise you on what you should do about these areas of concern. He/she may recommend an evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For example, your inspector will recommend you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds areas of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency and one that might cost thousands to repair.
Home inspections are only paid for by a buyer when they sign a contract, right?
This is simply not true! As you might find once you keep reading, a home inspection can be utilized for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by sellers to produce their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to ascertain the situation of the potential home.
Homeowners, in particular, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a several advantages for the seller:
· The seller 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 seller become more objective when it comes to setting a good price on the home.
· The seller may make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The seller may take the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.