Before buying a home, you need to make sure that you have the house inspected to check for any damage that may affect your potential home in the future. Having a home inspection specialist go through your potential home will help you to not only find any current or future problems with the house—it will help you to know if the home you are interested in is a worthy investment and will last you for as long as you live there.
Home Foundation
Foundation issues are among the most common issues that home inspectors find. Cracks and crumbling foundation are common in older houses and in areas where there are many earthquakes, as well as in humid areas or construction zones. Sinking foundation can cause doors to stick or stop doors from closing properly. While foundation issues are most common in old homes, any house is at risk and should be inspected for issues.
Plumbing
While plumbing issues may be glaringly obvious, like backed up sinks or burst pipes, there can also be smaller issues that need to be checked for. Filtration systems, exposed plumbing, fixture issues, drains, and sinks, showers/baths, and toilets (among others) all need to be checked for any current or potential problems in the home.
Electrical
One of the most important parts of a home inspection is checking the electrical system. Wires, circuit breakers, outlets, and fixtures all need to be checked in case there are any problems. Your inspector will need to make sure that there are enough outlets and that they are all functioning properly as well as checking to see if your light switches work properly. The circuit breaker is most likely to have problems and will also need to be checked by your inspection specialist. Your inspector will likely also check your home appliances to make sure that they are working properly and that there are no power surges involved with using them.
Roof
You may not immediately think of the roof as something that needs to be checked during an inspection, but leaks, cracks, vents, and shingles all need to be checked for by an inspector. A common issue many homeowners face with their roofs has to do with ventilation issues. There can be serious consequences when a roof vent fails.
If a vent fails, hot air can be trapped in your attic, causing your air-conditioning unit to work harder to lower the home’s temperature. Moisture can also accumulate on beams and cause molding and rotting as well as dripping onto insulation. If your insulation has problems, it could increase your energy costs resulting in higher bills and larger issues in the future.
Flooring
In the case of any warped or broken sections of the floor, your inspector will need to check if it is just the paneling or if there are deeper issues. Deeper issues may have to do with the foundation of the house itself or with the plywood underneath the flooring. Any mold spots or rotting wood will also need to be inspected. Biological hazards like mold and mildew are common in flooring in bathrooms, basements, under kitchen sinks, and attics where you may not notice any water pooling or moisture trapped.
Making sure there are no issues with the floor or subfloor is vital to making a decision about whether or not to invest in the home or not. If there is only minimal damage, as opposed to large amounts of subfloor damage, you would be able to do more to fix the problem and spend less in the long run.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Crucial to any home are heating and air conditioning units. In areas with drastic temperature changes throughout the year, you want to make sure that your heating and air is working properly and running smoothly. Checking to make sure that cold air is blowing and that both your water heater and hot air systems are working properly is a small way to avoid major costs in the future.
Basement
In addition to issues in attics, with flooring, and with foundations, basements can pose many issues to homes that could cause problems down the road. Checking for any signs or smells of mold and mildew help your inspector to know if there are any water drainage problems or if there are any major issues caused by mold. Peeling paint and water stains can also be tip-offs to deeper issues in the home that your inspector will need to check.
Unfinished basements are easier to check for any water issues or foundation issues. Checking for cracks, warping, or chipping in the foundation as well as looking for any potential rodents or pests are common things an inspector will check in a basement. Insulation and framing issues are also commonly found in basement checks. In finished basements, checking paint, flooring, electrical, and structural issues are crucial to ensuring there are no larger issues in the walls.
Gas
One of the most important and potentially hazardous parts of a house is the gas system. Any issues with gas pipes, gas pressure, leaks, and proper ventilation are incredibly important for your inspector to look at. Any issues with gas in your home could be dangerous, so, having an inspection specialist go through and check will help you to avoid high costs and potentially dangerous situations in the future. If your potential home has a gas fireplace and/or a gas stove, you will want to make sure that there are absolutely no gas leaks and that everything is functioning correctly.
Having your home inspected is one of the most important parts of the home-buying process. Making sure that your home is up to par in safety and functionality will help you to avoid high costs in the future and assure that your home is as safe as it can be. While each of the items on this list are important to make sure your inspection specialist looks over, there are many more things that your inspector will check to assure that you are getting the best quality home that you can.
Are you planning on buying a house soon? Contact us today to schedule an inspection!
