SWEET!
Remember Home Inspections, although very important, is more of a visual examination of the visible, safety accessible, and readily accessible areas of a home’s foundation, structure, roof, and electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and plumbing systems including their related components. Whether on the job for years or months, every home inspector has to meet specific experience and education criteria.
The best part is the printed report that documents that not only documents any conditions but also provides important maintenance and care information to help homeowners protect their investment.
Are Home Inspections Really Important? Absolutely! Even newly constructed homes can have problems that the buyer needs to be aware of. It is much better to find and correct any conditions before taking possession. A competent inspector can discover issues early which is a huge benefit to the buyer.
What Do Home Inspectors Look For? I am always asked what home inspectors look for and although all inspectors are different, they still look at the same things. Here’s a quick list I compiled to help sellers understand the process a bit better:
- They will inspect the exterior which includes walking the roof to inspect roof covering materials and the other components of the roof line
They will examine:
- Foundation (They may enter crawl spaces and attic spaces too!)
- Gutters (They should be clean and free from debris)
- Downspouts
- Chimneys
- Grading (This will also show up on a termite inspection if needing repair)
- Drainage
- Balconies
- Decks
- Porches & Patios
- Exterior Wall Claddings
- Walkways
- Driveways
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Heating and Cooling Systems
- Garages (The function of the garage openers will be checked typically as well)
Should Buyers Attend Inspections? It is strongly encouraged to do so and remember to dress appropriately if you want to look in a crawl space or climb a ladder. It’s a great idea to take a clipboard or notebook to write down maintenance notes and please don’t bring small children with you. And everyone must leave the premises when the inspection is over.
What Home Inspectors Don’t Do:
- They do not rate homes (So a home won’t pass or fail an inspection)
- They do not report cosmetic conditions (normal wear and tear)
- They do not perform corrective work
- They do not provide cost estimates (They can’t know what another qualified person could charge)
What Types of Things May Be Excluded? it is not uncommon for inspectors to exclude inspection of items such as swimming pools, hot tubs, household appliances, (Kitchen Appliances or Central Vacuums), active and passive solar heating or hot water heating systems, lawn sprinkler systems, intrusion detection and alarm systems and fire and smoke detection systems. They also won’t do environmental testing such as lead and asbestos.
This is just a simple guide to assist buyers and sellers with frequently asked questions I’ve encountered over the years. Feel free to let me know if I may have missed something because I feel having a home inspection done is as important as using a Real Estate Agent!
And, just for FUN check out this link from last year’s “The Home Inspector” Blog
http://www.startribune.com/the-best-of-the-worst-home-inspection-photos-of-2013/238840531/