What To Look For In A Home Inspection

By Alistair Nole


The issue of who to get to do the inspection of your home then arises.

We'll break down the details.

Home inspections are designed to thoroughly examine the property to assess the overall condition, identify problems that may be present, and to provide assistance in correcting any issues that the home may have. This includes looking at large scale systems of the home like the roof, plumbing, heating/cooling and electrical.

We will further examine the roof inspection. The attic will likely be investigated by the inspector, mostly to make sure that the roof is doing it's job of keeping out water and then look at the roof itself; the type of roof, approximate age and any vulnerable areas like vents, skylights and chimneys that penetrate the roofing membrane, as well as valleys where roof lines meet and flashing details.

The exterior wall attaches to the roof at a specific point, and it could look normal from the outside, but inside may be another story. Is this where a leak originates? Not in this instance. The inspector traces the leak to a plumbing vent and then returns to the exterior to find an area of flashing that requires re-caulking with an appropriate roofing product.

The inspectors, with real world experience, know that all homes, new and old, have ongoing maintenance issues to address. For an issue like this one, repairs can be made by a qualified contractor who can make the roof last for many years to come, and complete the job to everyone's satisfaction.

Examples of key items you will want your inspector to evaluate and make improvement recommendations on would be:

Electrical wiring and system; Is it copper wire? Is there knob and tube wiring, or aluminum? The panel's size will be examined and assessed for expansion possibilities in case of future renovation.

Plumbing; How much longer will your hot water heater last? Do you have polybutylene piping for in-floor heating? Is your outside drainage system made with concrete tile or clay, or newer PVC with a 2 tier system?

Heating and cooling units; Is the furnace using energy wisely? Are there any gas leaks? Do you know how to maintain your heat pump properly?

The roof; How much life can you expect out of the current roof and when should you budget for replacement?

The home's interior; Does the carpeting have any rough edges that could cause a person to fall? Missing door stops? Is there any issues with a railing on a stairwell?

Structure; When the home was built, it was inspected and constructed due to the code of the time, but was building code followed for any renovations done on the home?

Considerations Related to Safety or Insurance; Does the home have enough functional smoke detectors? Are carbon monoxide detectors installed? Is there an abandoned underground oil storage tank that needs a specialist to locate?

Homeowners should have a thorough home inspection done in order to be assured that the home is safe, secure, and is a healthy place for you and especially your loved ones.



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