A home inspection is an important part of the selling (and buying) process. Home Inspection Center protects both the buyer and the seller from any future issues with the residence or anything that requires immediate attention. If you’ve never had a home inspected before, the procedure can be intimidating. Fortunately, going in with a little information can help you be ready for anything.
Checklist for Home Inspections
During each visit of inspectors from home inspection centres, the following key parts will be evaluated:
- System of heating: Making sure that it is in proper working order and does not pose a fire hazard.
- Central air conditioning: Checking for sufficient cooling, system age, and that the temperature gauge accurately lowers the temperature to the preferred level
- Plumbing on the inside: Assuring that just about everything drains properly, that the pipework is up to standard, and that water is delivered to all faucets.
- Electrical: Ensure that all the electrical outlets, switches, lights are fully functional, as well as that the wiring is correctly done.
- Roof: Examine for leakages, rotten wood, and any other signs of hazard.
- Insulation and the attic: Attempting to make sure that the attic is structurally sound and inspecting the insulation to ensure that it is properly installed and does not pose a health risk. Look for cracks in the walls and ceilings, as well as any signs of water or insect damage.
- Floors: Look for any screeching, loose boards, carpets, tiles, and determine whether the floorboards are in good shape.
- Windows: Determine whether or not windows need weather stripping, can open and close properly, and meet necessary fire exit requirements.
- Doors: Verify that all doors can open and close, as well as the hinges, doorknobs, and frame’s authenticity.
- Foundation: Examine the groundwork for crack formation or leaks and ensure that it is still steady on the soil.
- Basement (if present): Look for any signs of crack formation, hazards, floods, or in any exposed pipework or wiring.
- Components of the structure: Examining the exterior of the house, and any load-bearing walls and studs
However, these aren’t the only things the inspector will be looking for. If you have a wood stove, they would need to inspect the area for supporting structure and ventilation. Some inspectors will also look for pests like rodents and termites.
The real inspection report will differ from area to area because each county follows state laws and codes before adding anything particular to its region. For example, a county in Florida close to the coast may need to consider flooding risks from the ocean. A more inland county, on the other hand, may require you to focus on the soil type around your home.
Getting Prepared for a Home Inspection
To keep the system moving smoothly and making things simpler, the current homeowner must take a few steps.
- Organize Your Home
Don’t make things harder for the inspector by keeping the house messy. Remove every clutter, trash, or other items that will impede the inspector’s access to the areas that need to be inspected. You should concentrate on cleaning the basement, loft, and the area around a crawl space. Make a point of cleaning up the rest of your house as well. A tidy space is a nice place to begin the inspection because it demonstrates that you put some effort into caring for your apartment.
- Have all of your documents and keys ready to go.
The inspector may request documentation for the roof, HVAC system, and any other recently finished projects. If you keep definite areas of the house, such as the electrical panel, and the basement is locked, it’s time to unlock them. However, if you are not available, leave the keys to these items in your house and tag them to indicate which one the inspector should pick up.
- Restart the utilities
Since the inspector will have to investigate appliances, you should restart any utilities that were earlier turned off. Water, electricity, and gas are examples of these. If you have a gas furnace or stove, don’t forget to turn on the pilot light.
It is entirely up to you whether or not you wish to attend the inspection. Unless you’ve already cleared out your house and moved far enough away, it’s advisable to return to check everything is in working order.
The prospective buyer should be present during the home inspection because they will most likely be the ones paying for it. This is, however, a negotiable option. If you’re the buyer, take a camera and a notepad to record everything the inspector discovers. These notes will also come in handy if you need to know where things like the shut-off valve are or how to get into the attic. This entire process will take about 3 to 4 hours, so bring water and food.
Following the Home Inspection
When the home inspection is finished, you should have the results in 3 to 4 business days at the very most. A clean inspection will usually produce faster results, whereas any problems discovered may take a couple of days to resolve.
Examining the Home Inspection Report
It’s difficult to get a perfect score on a home inspection report, so there are bound to be some issues that need to be addressed.
Repairing the Issues
Minor issues, such as paint flaking in a room or a rigid door, are understandable and are normally the buyer’s responsibility. Purchasers may prefer this since they can make changes to make it more appealing to them. Fixing major issues, such as a malfunctioning septic system and lead pipes, may necessitate some bargaining to determine who will bear the cost. If the issues are severe enough, you may lose a sale if the buyer believes it will be too much work for him.
Appointing individuals from home inspection centres to check your house before buying or selling will smoothen the process further.