11 Things You Need to Know
To Pass Your Home Inspection
According to industry experts, there are
at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during
a home inspection when your home is for sale. Here are 11 you
should know about if you’re planning to put your home up for
sale.
Homebuyers Want to Know Your Home Inside and Out
While homebuyers are as individual as the homes they plan on
purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the
home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it
appears to be. Will the roof end up leaking? Is the wiring
safe? What about the plumbing? These, and others, are
the questions that the buyers looking at your home will seek
professional help to answer.
According to industry experts, there are at least 33
physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home
inspection. We’ve identified the 11 most common of these and, if
not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost
you dearly in terms of repair.
In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection
your-self if you know what you’re looking for. And knowing what
you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from
growing into costly and unmanageable ones.
11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection
1. Defective Plumbing
Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways:
leaking, and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking, and
an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets
in the highest bath-room and then flushing the toilet. If you hear
the sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes are
undersized. If the water appears dirty when first turned on at the
faucet, this is a good indication that the pipes are rusting,
which can result in severe water quality problems.
2. Damp or Wet Basement
An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral
deposit a few inches off the floor, and will look to see if you
feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A
mildew odor is almost impossible to eliminate, and an inspector
will certainly be conscious of it.
It could cost you $200-$1,000 to seal a crack in or around your
basement foundation depending on severity and location. Adding a
sump pump and pit could run you around $750 - $1,000, and complete
waterproofing (of an average 3 bedroom home) could amount to
$5,000-$15,000. You will have to weigh these figures into the
calculation of what price you want to net on your home.
3. Inadequate Wiring & Electrical
Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service, and this
should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper or aluminum. Home
inspectors will look at octopus plugs as indicative of inadequate
circuits and a potential fire hazard.
4. Poor Heating & Cooling Systems
Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a poorly
functioning heating system, are the most common causes of poor
heating. While an adequately clean furnace, without rust on the
heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will be
asking and checking to see if your furnace is over its typical
life span of 15-25 yrs. For a forced air gas system, a heat
exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is
cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat
exchangers must be replaced if damaged -they cannot be repaired.
5. Roofing Problems
Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of
reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles
(e.g. curling or splitting), or mechanical damage from a wind
storm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water to run down
and through the exterior walls, this external problem becomes a
major internal one.
6. Damp Attic Spaces
Aside from basement dampness, problems with ventilation,
insulation and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold and
mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to premature wear of
the roof, structure and building materials. The cost to fix this
damage could easily run over $2,500.
7. Rotting Wood
This can occur in many places (door or window frames, trim,
siding, decks and fences). The building inspector will sometimes
probe the wood to see if this is present - especially when wood
has been freshly painted.
8. Masonry Work
Re-bricking can be costly, but, left unattended, these repairs
can cause problems with water and moisture penetration into the
home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged by fallen
bricks or even a chimney which falls onto the roof. It can be
costly to rebuild a chimney or to have it repainted.
9. Unsafe or Over-fused Electrical Circuit
A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on the
circuit than was intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in
a typical home, with larger service for large appliances such as
stoves and dryers. It can cost several hundred dollars to replace
your fuse panel with a circuit panel.
10. Adequate Security Features
More than a purchased security system, an inspector will look
for the basic safety features that will protect your home such as
proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the doors,
smoke and even car-bon monoxide detectors in every bedroom and on
every level. Even though pricing will vary, these components will
add to your costs. Before purchasing or installing, you should
check with your local experts.
11. Structural/Foundation Problems
An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing
and foundation of your home as structural integrity is fundamental
to your home.
When you put your home on the market, you don’t want any
unpleasant surprises that could cost you the sale of your home. By
having an understanding of these 11 problem areas as you walk
through your home, you’ll be arming yourself against future
disappointment.
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