Taking a Closer Look at Home Inspections
July 7th, 2009
Categories:Home Buyer Education
You’ve found the house you want to call home and you’ve come to agreement with the sellers on the terms of the contract. Now its time to do your due diligence and make sure the home is in good shape.
Depending on the home and its condition you might have more than one inspection performed. No matter what, the first inspection performed should be by a home inspector.
A good home inspector will give you an understanding of the home’s condition and point out any issues that could use a specialized home inspection. They will put their findings in a report and often summarize the entire report with an executive summary.
Each finding by the home inspector should include:
- An explanation of the condition (issue)
- An assessment (severity) of the condition
- What could happen if the condition is ignored
- A picture of the condition
4 Areas of a Home Inspection
While a home inspector can create a laundry list of issues with the home ranging from nicked based boards to mismatched paint, there are four important areas to pay close attention to.
The four areas of a home inspection are:
- Structural Problems
- Electrical System
- Water Damage
- Safety Issues
Keep in mind home inspectors are not experts in all areas of their field (much like Realtors). In the event there appears to be a problem they will most likely (and should) recommend hiring a specialist to fully assess the situation.
Structural Problems
The home inspector will point out any issues that could be the cause (or future cause) of a structural issue in the home. For example broken trusses in the attic or unusually large (and visible) cracks in the foundation.
If the home inspector finds issues with the structure of the home, he will typically recommend a structural engineer perform an inspection and make recommendations.
Electrical System
The older the home, the more creative and complex the electrical system can be. While electrical systems and codes have evolved a great deal over time, the do-it-yourself homeowner doesn’t always do the repair/upgrade properly.
If the home inspector finds issues with the electrical system in the home, he will typically recommend an electrical engineer perform an inspection and make recommendations.
Water Damage
Water damage is an issue easily overlooked by home owners. However it can be a small problem that quickly grows out of control. The home inspector will take a close look at the roof to determine any obvious or potential issues that would allow the water into the home. Other tell tail signs will be water damage in the attic, water spots on the ceiling and buckled drywall.
Sometimes water damage will result in mold growing in the home. Mold in the home is not only a health hazard, it can be problematic to resolve. Evaluating potential mold issues, or the severity of a mold problem is best handled by an indoor air expert.
Safety Issues
While the other three areas overlap into the category of safety issues, there are additional elements the home inspector will look for. Items like smoke detectors, carbon-dioxide detectors, safe ways to exit the home in the event of fire are just a few of the things that need to be considered when considering the safety of a home. Fortunately many of these items can be handled by a handy man or a handy home buyer.
If the home inspector finds issues with the structure of the home, he will typically recommend a structural engineer perform an inspection and make recommendations.
What Is and What Isn’t Covered
Your home inspector should explain to you what their inspection does or does not cover during the inspection. While the list of items inspected by the home inspector will vary from inspector to inspector, we’ve compiled two lists for reference.
What Is (should be) Covered:
- Structural System
- Exterior
- Roofing
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Heating
- Air Conditioning
- Interior
- Insulation and Ventilation
- Fireplaces
- Appliances
What Isn’t (might not be) Covered:
- Buildings not attached to the home
- Seasonal Accessories
- Anything that can’t be tested without damaging the home or using super human powers
If you have any questions or would like more information, send us an email and we’ll be happy to help!
Related posts: