10 Things to Look for in a Home Inspection

The home purchase is the largest one most people ever make. This makes it an extremely important financial commitment. Many of the issues that a house may have are outside of the layperson’s ability to diagnose, which means that it is a good idea to have building and pest inspections carried out by professionals. It makes sense for home buyers to know exactly what they are getting into before they make the purchase. 

Important Things to Look for in a Home Inspection

Below is a buying property guide to help homeowners spot potential issues with homes that they are considering. Understanding these issues can help them to evaluate the quality of a home before committing to the expense of a professional inspection. These are the most important areas for building inspections suggested by our friend at Precision Building & Pest Inspections:

1. Basement

Basements are prone to moisture problems and therefore are among the most important areas to inspect before buying a house. Home buyers should look for signs of water leaks on the basement’s ceiling and floor. It is also a good idea to look for leaking around the home’s foundation.

2. Attic

Attics are another area where problems are often uncovered during building inspections. Home buyers should look for problems like water leakage and damage. They should also try to determine if there is a musty odor present as this can be a sign of mold growth.

3. Roof

A roof that needs maintenance can lead to numerous problems including damaged drywall, insulation and wiring. A shingle roof should have no missing shingles and should look secure.

4. Toilets

Home buyers should make sure that toilets are flush with the floor and do not move when touched. Toilets that have been poorly installed are likely to leak and cause water damage.

5. Wiring

Electrical wiring can be a safety issue, especially in older homes. It should not be worn or frayed and should have been installed to code. It is important to note that rewiring a house can be a very expensive project. The home buyer should find and inspect the main breaker box, which should be easy to get to and in good condition.

6. Insulation

How well a home is insulated affects its comfort as well as the cost of heating or cooling it. Homes that are poorly insulated can be less comfortable and far more expensive to keep cool or warm.

7. Plumbing

It is important that the home’s plumbing be installed properly and be well maintained. Signs of future problems include little or no insulating wraps on pipes as well as PVC pipes that have been stretched to make them fit.

8. Drains

This is an aspect of plumbing that many home buyers overlook; however, poor drainage can be an expensive problem to fix. Backed up drains can result in flooding that can cause extensive water damage. One way to check drainage is to turn on all the faucets and see how quickly the water drains away. This can indicate whether or not there are clogs in the line.

9. HVAC

The first step is to turn on the heating and air conditioning system to make sure that it works. The model and capacity of the HVAC system should also be checked to make sure that it is correctly sized.

10. Fireplace and Chimney

The mortar should be checked to make sure that it is not loose or crumbling and there should be a rain cap on the chimney. The interior of the chimney should be inspected for evidence of creosote.