Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a final evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property on the day it is inspected, considering normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the property can also include pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also paid for (less often) by a homeseller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by owners simply wanting to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your property:
1. Major defects, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; building out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported correctly, and others. These are items that are expensive to repair, which are entire systems needing more than 2% of the buy price to repair.
2. Items that could lead to major defects – a beam that was not tied in to the structure properly, a roof leak that could grow larger, or damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Safety hazards, such as bare wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), etc.
Your inspector will advise you on what you should do about these issues. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on more issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the problem areas. For example, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds areas of the property that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural problem.
Home Inspections are always paid for by a buyer when they sign an agreement, right?
This isn’t true! As you will discover when you read on, a home inspection can be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool with a current homeowner, a proactive technique by home owners to make their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the situation of the potential home.
Homeowners, specifically, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a some of the advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner will soon 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 become more objective as it pertains to setting a fair price on the home.
· The home owner may make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush following the contract is signed.
· The home owner can take the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.