Five Most Common Defects Found During Home Inspections
It's easy to fall in love when you're on a house hunt. After shows at outdated, ugly homes, it can finally be incredibly exciting to bid on a home that you love. Although it is difficult to keep emotions out of the transaction, the purchase of a home must be guided by your head, not your heart. A home inspection can help you keep perspective in the due diligence period of the sale.
Home inspectors provide professional, unbiased insight into the state of a home. Although your broker may have some guidelines about the history of the house, only a home inspector can provide the in-depth knowledge you need before you sign up with the dotted line of the mortgage. For your home inspection you may not have a clue what is under the hardwood floors or above the popcorn ceilings.
As you prepare for your home inspection, review five of the most common defects found during the inspection process:
Poor ventilation
Vapor condensation. High temperatures. Discolored floors. These symptoms are all signs that a home has ventilation problems. The problem lies in the number of ventilation openings on the outside. These vents help to retain fresh air intake and the discharge of polluted air. When a house does not have enough ventilation openings, the air flow decreases, so that water vapor from the shower is collected, smoke from the cookie dinner of last night and more. Over time, poor ventilation can lead to mold growth, which can have serious consequences for the health of the residents of the house.
Poor ventilation does not necessarily mean that you have to cancel the sale. With the right ventilation solution you can ensure that the air flows well while minimizing the risk of mold growth. Adding external vents does not have to be expensive, and some handy homeowners may even decide to tackle the project themselves. If your home inspector reports poor ventilation in the home that you are hoping to buy, consider asking the seller to chip in for the installation of additional vents.
Roof challenges
The roof is the workhorse of a house. Exposed to the elements like no other part of the house, the roof is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, wind and more. It is no wonder that roof problems are one of the most common defects found during home inspections. Older roofs can have broken or missing shingles, leaks and other structural damage. Depending on how large the roof is and how large the damage is, roof problems can halt the sale of a house. A new roof can cost more than $ 15,000 - and that is on the low side.
As it is difficult to determine the condition of the roof from the ground, you must ensure that your home inspector carries out a thorough investigation during your appointment. Although not considered as part of the standard inspection process, roof inspections are worth the extra investment. Ask your home inspector about roof screening options, as many professionals choose the most advanced drone technology for their work.
Bad maintenance
Worn carpets, peeling paint and cracked driveways are all common during the home inspection process. Many of these defects can be noticed without the eye of a home inspector, but only an experienced professional can tell you how serious these problems really are. Although common, these problems are not necessarily dealbreakers. In many cases they are really cosmetic. If you plan to take the carpet out and still replace it with hardwood floors, it is not an end of the world that the carpet is soaked with pet urine.
Even if the solutions are simple, poorly maintained homes should still pause you. After all, if a homeowner was negligent with his carpet or driveway, who knows what else he could not have maintained in the house?
Bad wiring
Few things hit the hearts of home buyers more than the words "faulty wiring." Although wiring problems can indeed be difficult, they are also incredibly common. Home inspectors often find problems such as that no wire nuts were used on wires, mismatched currents and open junction boxes. Fortunately, these are all simple solutions and can be quickly resolved by an electrician.
Old wiring, on the other hand, can be a dealbreaker for some buyers. Knot and tube style electrical systems from before 1960 often do not comply with the code and converting a house to a more modern system can quickly become expensive. Talk to your home inspector about how serious the wiring problems can be - they give you the insight you need to make a decision or help you do more research.
Incorrect drain
Real estate inspectors often find problems with assessing houses when examining houses. Water can accumulate in the back yard, the level can be too high against the side of the house and gutters are missing their downspouts. Some of these problems can be easily solved. Others? Not so much. Ask your home inspector if they have noticed any leakage problems around the property, and if so, what they think is the cause.
If you have your dream house inspected soon, it is worth keeping this list handy to resolve any concerns about the process. Although ignorance may seem blissful, you want to make sure you understand common errors when the inspection report is sent. Remember that even the most dramatic defect can usually be solved with the right professionals at work!
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