Hello World! Welcome Friends! According to one report, about 15% of Americans say that they have bought a home in the past 5 years. However, about 32% of Americans plan to do so sometime soon.
Whether you are planning on buying a new house or selling your old one, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you have a house inspector come and take a look at it.
Are you wondering what do home inspectors look for when they are inspecting a house? If yes, you should check out our guide here.
Water Damage
One of the important things that a home inspector will check is to see if there is any water damage.
Water can be one of the most damaging things to a house because when it gets near to the home, it can start to cause all kinds of issues. This should be a red flag for anyone who’s interested in buying the property.
If there is water in the basement, there may be structural damage to the house. If the roof leaks or if there are plumbing issues, you may notice water spots and stains on the ceiling and wall.
If there is hidden water damage, this can create the perfect environment for mold to start growing in. The CDC says that exposure to mold in a damp, interior environment can also cause problems with your breathing and can spark symptoms in healthy people.
Mold removal can also cost you thousands of money down the road, so you want to make sure you notice a potential problem before you commit to a house.
Structural Problems
During home inspections, the home inspector may get onto the roof, crawl into the attic, and poke at the foundation of the home.
If the house is in a hurricane zone, they may even examine the roof to make sure it’s up to hurricane code.
If there are cracks in the floor and evidence that the house is separating from the floorboards, they’ll also note that. Water damage will also play into the structural integrity of the house.
Water Heater Temperatures
If your water heater starts malfunctioning, you can kiss your warm showers goodbye.
A working water heater is important and nice to have, but it can also pose a safety risk if it starts malfunctioning.
Your home inspector will make sure that the natural gas appliances have proper ventilation so that dangerous gases don’t start building up in the home.
A lot of these appliances have safety features built in to prevent this from happening, but your inspector should check to make sure that the equipment is installed properly as well.
The inspector will also check the temperature of the water heater. If it is over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, this should be a big red flag.
Roof Damage
To maintain the structure of your house and to keep the interior safe, it’s important to make sure you have a really strong roof.
This will protect your home from the weather, and a damaged roof can also cost you a lot of money to repair. A good roof should be able to last up to twenty-five years, but it’s important to have it inspected at least once a year.
Signs of a damaged roof include things like:
- Missing shingles
- Loose shingles
- No texture on the shingles
- Moisture on the ceiling or in the attic
- Cracks
- Rust
- Algae
- Soft spots or unevenness
If your roof is damaged on a house you are trying to sell, talk with your real estate agent to see if it’s worth the price of repairing it. A roof can cost anywhere up to $40,000 to repair, and you’ll want to make sure you can get that money back when you sell your house.
On the flip side, if you’re about to buy a house that has problems with the roof, make sure you know that you have enough in your budget to cover the cost of a new or repaired roof.
Issues With the Electrical System
A home inspector should also check to make sure that there are no problems with the electrical system.
They should check the circuit breaker and the electrical panel and make sure that they are suitable and adequate enough to run the home.
They should also be up to code, but these codes change all the time. If this is an older home, the panel still may not be up-to-date, so you should make sure you review the codes before you put your house on the market or even buy one.
They will also check for receptacles called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI). These are normally in the kitchens and bathrooms and act as a mini circuit breaker. If there is too much loaded onto this, it can cause an overload and will short out.
Inspectors will make sure that they actually do their job and aren’t just designed to just look like one.
Pest Infestations
Lastly, a home inspector will check to see if there are any bugs or pest infestations in the home.
Carpenter ants and termites can really destroy a home, and they will eat the wood of the house which will eventually damage the structure.
Ants may be one of the most problematic pests, and they can cause thousands of damage to a home. If an inspector finds a nest or problem in your home, you will have to find an exterminator before you can sell it.
What Do Home Inspectors Look For?
These are most of the answers to the question: “What do home inspectors look for?”.
It’s always important to have a home inspector whether you’re buying or selling so that you don’t end up losing more money than you should.
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