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Why Should I Have A Home Inspection?
A standard pre-purchase inspection
covers a home's major mechanical systems -
electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling - and its
construction from roof to foundation, exterior and
interior. The average homebuyer lacks the
overall knowledge, skill and emotional detachment
needed to inspect the home themselves. A
disclosure on the physical condition of the home is
to be provided by the seller or real estate agent.
Many times problems exist that are not known by the
current homeowner or the real estate agent. A
licensed home inspector can uncover these hidden
problems and save you thousands of dollars down the
road.
Top 10 Common Defects
1. Poor drainage -
You may have to install new roof gutters and
downspouts or have the lot re-graded to better
channel water away from the house.
2. Faulty wiring -
Insufficient or out-of-date electrical system is a
common problem, especially in older homes.
Faulty wiring can be a potentially hazardous defect.
You may have to replace the entire electrical system
or at least part of it, to bring the home up to code
or make it safe.
3. Roof leaks - If
the roof has water damage, it may be caused by old
or damaged shingles. It may be cheap and relatively
easy to repair shingles and small amounts of
flashing, but if the roof is old, it will be a much
larger expense to replace the entire roof.
4. Unsafe heating system
- An older heating system or one that has not
been properly maintained can be a serious health and
safety hazard. You may have to repair or
replace the old furnace. This is a major
expense, but new furnaces are more energy-efficient.
5. Poor home maintenance
- Examples of poor maintenance included cracked
or peeling paint, crumbling masonry, broken
fixtures, makeshift electrical or plumbing, etc.
These items can be easily repaired, but items that
create safety issues may necessitate more extensive
repairs.
6. Minor structural
damage - Such damage is caused by water seepage.
Into the foundation, joists, rafters or window and
door headers. The source of the water seepage
and the damaged items must be repaired before the
damage becomes more extensive.
7. Plumbing problems - The
most common plumbing defects include old or
incompatible piping materials and faulty fixture
waste lines. These may require simple repairs
or more expensive repair, such as replacing the
plumbing itself.
8. Exterior water seepage -
The house's exterior lets in water and air around
doors and windows. This usually does not
indicate a structural problem, but rather poor
caulking and weather stripping. These are
usually relatively simple and inexpensive repairs.
9. Inadequate ventilation -
Poor ventilation can result in too much moisture
that creates many problems on interior walls and
structural elements. It can also create
allergic reactions. Poor ventilation is
extremely harmful in crawl and attic space and is a
leading cause of mold and mildew and structural
damage.
10. Environmental hazard
- Environmental problems are a new and growing
area of home defects. Interior air quality can
be affected by Asbestos, formaldehyde, radon gas,
etc. The presence of any of these particulates
can cause serious health issues.
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