A home inspector’s job is to find the problems with a house. It’s that easy. The inspector does not approve or suspend a home. He looks for problems, potential problems, health hazards, safety hazards, and just plain annoyances. Most of the time problems are found before they become bigger problems.
Would you, as a home buyer, want to find problems before you buy the house and move? If you wait, then it’s too late. If you move into a home without doing a home inspection, then you don’t have the opportunity to negotiate with the seller about any major issues. It will be your responsibility to pay for any necessary repair or replacement.
A common problem that home inspectors encounter is plumbing problems. These include problems like leaky laundry connections in washing machines and leaks around pipes and fixtures. He will check and make sure the water pressure is adequate throughout the house.
A home inspector will look for leaks around the base of toilets, under kitchen sinks, and under bathroom sinks. He will also check all the water drains and make sure they are draining properly.
The home inspector will check to see what type of plumbing is in the house. If the house was built in the 1970s or 1980s, they will want to know if it has polybutylene pipes. This type of pipe is known to have problems and can alert the inspector.
Did you know that more than 40,000 fires are caused by faulty electrical systems every year? Electrical systems regularly encounter problems. As a new home buyer, you may want to know what’s going on with your electrical system and make sure it’s in good working order.
You will want to know if the electrical outlets are working properly. You may want to know if the outlets in the bathrooms, living rooms, kitchen, and other main areas of the house are using GFCI circuits.
There are many houses that are wired incorrectly. Switch boxes may be wired with the wrong type of breakers or the wrong size of breaker. Many homes find themselves with the wrong gauge of wire, especially older homes that have not yet been updated.
These days, more people are demanding more electricity for their appliances, computers, and other devices. Having the right breaker box is a must to handle all electrical usage.
You may want to find out if your oven is working properly. Is there a gas leak? Is your central heating and air conditioning system working properly? Has it ever been repaired by a professional?
A home inspector will look at things like your fireplace and make sure it’s working properly. It is very important to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. This gas is created by the combustion of items such as furnaces, water heaters, and fireplaces. It is very deadly and can go unnoticed by the owner of the house.
He will look at your vents and make sure they are working properly. Is your fireplace clean and in good condition?
These are just a few of the things your home inspector will look at while making their assessment.
You’ll also do things like go up to the attic and make sure you have enough insulation so you don’t lose dollars. It costs an average of $1,000 a year to heat a home. The attic needs careful attention. Insulation also helps in the summer when you turn on your air conditioner.
Your home inspector should know what your home needs based on your state’s requirements. Installation requirements are different from state to state.
I’ve just mentioned a few things that the home inspector will look at when they come to review your potential investment. Any of these items can cost you a lot of money if he can’t find them.
It costs pennies to hire a home inspector compared to the investment you are putting into your home. But that small amount of money he’s spending to have his home inspected can save him thousands of dollars in repair work that he won’t know about until it’s too late.
Hiring a home inspector to do a home inspection before you buy is the smartest thing you can do for yourself and your family.