You have finally come to that point in your life when it is time to purchase a new home. Yet you cannot allow your inexperience in the property market to cost you a fortune. Regardless of how beautiful the home, not matter what the real estate agent says, always have a home inspection carried out on the property before signing on that dotted line. You can arrange it with a home inspection agency and the whole process will cost no more than a few hundred dollars.
Frankly, when you are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new home, this is a drop in the ocean. This is especially the case when the inspection could save you thousands by uncovering a hidden structural problem. It can be a confusing process so here is a short list of what a home inspector will be looking at.
The Important Areas
The wall and floor coverings, mod cons and other items are important but do not compare to the property’s mechanical, electrical and structural condition. These are where the major problems often lie and are also the most expensive areas to repair. This is why home inspectors focus their inspection on a home’s structure first. It should be noted that a home inspection is not a foolproof system of finding all a home’s flaws but it does do an excellent job. When performed by a competent, experienced inspector, it is a rare occasion indeed when anything escapes his notice.
Exterior
Expect the home inspector to begin by comparing the property to one of a similar age. The inspection will begin in earnest with the inspector working his way around the property’s exterior working from the top down. This inspection takes into account the condition of the chimneys, roof, gutters and windows among other things. Coverings such as flowerbeds and driveways will be analyzed next with a final, closer examination made to ensure nothing is missed before moving inside.
Interior
The interior inspection begins in the basement before the walls, floors and ceiling are checked. Only then will the appliances in the property be inspected. The inspector will often go from room to room, always moving in the same direction. No room will be overlooked. Other interior items to be checked include the furnace, plumbing system, electrical panel and hot water heater.
Checklist
A checklist which shows the individual parts of the property followed by the potential problems associated with it is an essential part of a home inspector’s arsenal. An example of this might be:
- Roof: Is there any sign of sagging or deterioration?
- Chimney: Are there are bricks or mortar missing?
- Foundations: Look out for various cracks or damage to masonry. Is the mortar soft?
- Basement: Check for signs of mildew
- Electro-Mechanical: How old are the systems? When was their last service/inspection?
The above is just a small sample of what a home inspector’s checklist will look like. If you are hiring a home inspector and they claim the inspection will last less than 2 hours, walk away. As you can see, inspecting a home is a lengthy and thorough process which may take 3 hours or more before the inspector writes a detailed report.
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Inspectors do not compare the home they are inspecting to homes of a similar age. They are inspecting for safety concerns and defective systems and components. Electrical wires splices outside of a junction box are unsafe regardless of the age of the home or code in effect. Similarly a broken window is broken regardless of the age of the home. Inspectors are looking at the structural, roofing, exterior, plumbing, electrical, heating & cooling systems, insulation & ventilation systems and components. Some home inspector associations and state licensing Standards of Practice also include a cursory inspection of kitchen appliances. Cosmetic items are excluded from most inspection Standards of Practice. It is presumed a buyer can easily see worn carpet, outdated wallpaper, and minor imperfections in finish surfaces.
The order or sequence an inspector moves through the house varies widely between inspectors and is not as important as the concept of having an established routine that ensures all areas of the house are inspected.