Tag Archive for: Home Inspection

 

New homes are being built left and right now that the industry has fully recovered from the supply freeze of 2020 and 2021. Buyers are excited at the chance to be the first people to live in a home: but is new always better?

 

If you’re considering buying a new home, it’s a good idea to have it inspected: these are the top reasons why!

New Doesn’t Always Mean Good

Although we’ve been conditioned to think of new as good and perfect, that’s not always how it goes. Although most contractors work hard and want to create a property that’s valuable and attractive: new homes aren’t always good homes. If a company is on a tight deadline and wants to get out as many homes as possible: it can take less than two months for them to put a house together. Although insulated concrete forms can cut down the time by a lot, any house that takes less than three months to build should be carefully checked.

Your Foundation is New and Untested

Your new foundation is in perfect condition: but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way. If it’s not a good foundation, or they didn’t level the ground out correctly before they laid it, it can crack within the first year. An expert will look at the drainage, what type of soil is used, and if there are any structural problems that can be spotted right off the bat. This can save you from buying a home that will immediately need a lot of work.

Your Roof Needs to Be High Quality

Roofs protect our properties from rain, temperature imbalances, and countless other issues that aren’t fun to deal with. Although the roof is new and might look nice, an inspector will make sure that it will properly protect your home and that you won’t need a roof cover board to go back and correct their mistakes.

 

A good inspector will also be able to tell you if they actually used composite insulated roof panels or if that’s just something the company is saying for advertising. 

Electrical System Issues Can Cause Fire

If builders were really running through a project, the last place you want them to cut corners is in the electrical work. A bad electrical system can cause a fire and lead the house to burn down, or at least damage your property. Your home inspector will check to ensure everything was put in correctly and that the electrical system is giving them the readings they expect to see.

Termites Don’t Only Bother Old Houses

Many assume that termites only bother older homes, but this simply isn’t true. Termites will dig into any wood available, and this isn’t always the fault of the builder. They should take steps to seal and protect the wood, but sometimes termites find a way anyway; it’s good to know before you accidentally buy a termite-ridden home. Your inspector will be great at noticing signs of termites and will let you know if there are any reasonable solutions the seller should do before you buy.

If They Cut Corners, You Need to Know

Cutting corners in home construction can lead to things like light switches that don’t work or gas lines that are disastrously connected incorrectly. Although you may know about houses and assume you’ll catch everything, an inspector has been doing this as their job for long enough that they catch far more than the average person. Their duties are far less expensive than buying a lemon of a house and then trying to fix it up despite already overpaying for it in the first place.

How Sealed Is This Property

How well sealed your home is will decide how your HVAC bills will look. Heating and cooling bills can go out of control if they don’t attach the soffit panels correctly or if the windows are allowing a steady stream of air into the home. The inspector will look at every possible entrance to the home and will let you know if they feel like it’s a safe and good space to live in.

Would You Feel Safe Living There

An inspector’s main job is to ensure this property is a safe investment: but it’s also to make sure you’ll feel safe living there. Instead of questioning if everything works alright, you can focus on things like how you’re going to paint your bathroom or decorate your child’s room. This is a space where you’ll live and build memories, so it’s important that you thoroughly research it before moving in.

An Inspection Is Always Important

Whether you’re buying a brand new house and want to have it double-checked, or you had a home built, and you want to review it, an inspection is vital. Have a professional walk through your property so you can rest easy knowing it’s in great shape.

 

Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value. 

 

Water is one of the most corrosive substances on Earth, able to wear down stone and destroy wood: so it’s vital that you do everything you can to protect your property. Whether you’re buying your first home and you want to make sure you pick one that has the right protection, or you’re working on updating your current home to handle the tests of time, it’s important that you make sure your property is waterproof. 

These are the top ways to protect your home from moisture.

Ensuring Your Landscape Drains

Landscape Drainage is vital to anyone who wants their property to be moisture-free. Not only can an abundance of moisture in your soil cause land slippage, but going without landscape drainage grates can also lead to water rising high enough to damage your home, driveway, and other property. Take the time to look at where water gathers and create a solution by making drains that will allow gravity to naturally pull this water down and away from your home over time.

Waterproofing Concrete

Concrete and water don’t get along. If moisture gets in, it can cause cracks, which will get larger and worse over time. It’s vital you avoid this issue by waterproofing concrete walls in your basement and whatever other spaces you have. If you allow any water to get in through cracks, it can damage everything from your flooring to any equipment or storage you have in your basement, so it’s vital that you take care of this as soon as possible.

Using the Right Paint

Although some may assume water is bad for any paint, if you use moisture-resistant paint, you’ll be able to protect your home while still letting it look good. Not all paints are moisture-resistant, so when shopping, especially for outdoor, bathroom, and basement spaces: ensure that you’re seeking out a paint that’s been rated to work in high moisture areas and has good reviews for being moisture-proof. You can still find almost any color or finish you want; just pay attention to the fact that it’s moisture resistant, and you’ll be good to go. 

Maintenance of Roof and Gutters

Your roof and gutters are one of the most important parts of your property. Its main job is to keep the elements out while diverting water away from your home. To carry this out, you need to make sure your roof is always in good condition. If you allow debris to build on your roof or wood shingles to break off and invite water inside, you’ll quickly find that your attic and home can gather far more mold and rot than you could affordably deal with. Maintain your roof to avoid this issue.

Updating Your Window Wells

If your home has any rooms underground, chances are you’ll have window wells that extend underground to allow light into these spaces. Unfortunately, if they don’t drain well, or they’re not covered, you’ll quickly notice they gather water like no other space. The main goal of these wells is to prevent water damage to your basement while also giving occupants an escape route during an emergency. Make sure your window well can handle moisture and is built to help divert it away. 

Extending Downspouts Away From Home

Downspouts are a vital part of any property that has to handle a lot of rain, but if they’re too close to the home, they might not be doing as much good as you want them to. Instead of allowing them to flood your home or cause deep grooves in the ground where they let out water, it’s a good idea to extend your downspouts and help them carry moisture further away from your property to avoid this corrosion.

Seal Any Basement Wall Cracks

Cracks are bad for any home, but they’re worse for properties dealing with moisture issues. If your basement or exterior has cracks, it’s important that you fill cracks in concrete and ensure they’re safe from water as soon as possible. Repair cracks by first ensuring they’re moisture-free and then filling them with a material that works well with the original material. From here, sand it down until it’s smooth, and apply a pmma coating to ensure no further moisture makes its way through. 

Adding an Underground Drain or Sump Pump System

The most important thing any homeowner can do to protect their property from moisture is to give it somewhere to go. If you leave the water to its own devices, it’ll gather and groove paths out of whatever materials it’s running against, causing damage and eventually mold and rot. Using underground drainage or a sump pump, you can pull the water down and out, using gravity to guide the water where you want it to go: and get it away from your home.

Moisture Can Damage Anything Quickly

Over time moisture can destroy almost anything. From rotting wood to corroding brick and cracking concrete, it’s one of the most destructive forces: take steps to protect your home from it soon. Having your home inspected is a great way to start towards discovering and repairing those areas which may allow water to enter your home, give us a call today!

 

Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value. 

Home Inspection Reviews

What Are The Important Considerations at a Home Inspection?

The home inspection is one of the most important items to pay attention to when it comes to buying a new home. It will give you the low down on the most important systems and aspects of the property you are considering investing in. The inspection becomes even more essential when you are buying a fixer-upper house. Homes that need work bring an extra level of due diligence as there is no telling what significant problems could be found.

Before you even get to the point of hiring a professional, you should pay close attention to the state of the home yourself. It is all too easy to walk around a property with rose-colored glasses and forget to look around for defects.

You may already have fallen in love with the property because of its curb appeal or neighborhood – it is all too easy to do. This is why the home inspection report is important. It will, hopefully, prevent you from making a buying mistake you’ll regret.

The inspection is also a great way to become educated on your investment as well. Waiving an inspection can be really risky. It becomes far more prevalent in markets where there are bidding wars. Many buyers, however, learn the hard way when they discover the fact they’ve purchased a lemon. Don’t be one of them!

Aspects of the Home Inspection Which Are More Important Than Others

Yes, there are some aspects of the home inspection that are more important than others. For instance, the home inspector will make a special point of checking the roof, foundation and mechanical systems such as the heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical. Not only do these areas concern the safety of those who live in the home but are very costly to repair or replace. Having an understanding of the condition of these things is essential.

You should also be aware of some of the other potential issues that can crop up with homes such as mold, radon, lead paint, asbestos and potable drinking water. It is vital the home inspector checks out all of these things for you.

Can I Ask the Home Inspector to Check Certain Areas of the Home?

Yes, is the answer to that question. The buyer pays for the home inspection report, so if you are concerned about certain areas of the home, do ask the home inspector to pay extra close attention to them.

 

A broken window pane may not be such a big deal, but an HVAC system that has not been regularly maintained can quickly cause problems and cost you a lot of money to either replace or repair.

 

It goes without saying that the structural components are important, but that is not all. Make sure that you ask the home inspector to check for problems related to electrical wiring and plumbing. They are all red flags when it comes to home ownership.

If this is the first time you are buying a property, it may feel that you are criticizing someone’s home, but that is not what you are doing at all. In fact, what you are doing is looking after your investment. Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions of home inspectors. It might be smart to look them over and ask many of them yourself.

What If I Get Negative Feedback?

No home is perfect, but there are certainly some red flags that you should look out for when you read the home inspection report.

We have already mentioned the roof, HVAC system, and the foundation, but when it comes to buying a home, don’t stop there. Other problems can involve considerable costs. In a worst-case scenario, your lender may even refuse to release funds even though you think you have found your dream home. Some loan products such as FHA and VA require homes to be in acceptable condition. When defects are found that don’t meet these baseline requirements a loan will not be granted.

Look out for problems with security, the basement, and the attic. Any structural problems can prevent the sale of the property from going through. It is also a good idea to pay attention to how energy efficient home appliances are if they are part of the sale. In the future, this is likely to become increasingly important. 

Let’s Talk About The Price

There is no reason why you should not use the home inspection report to ask for a price drop if warranted. If you are going to have to spend money getting repairs done, it is important to make sure you are aware of the costs.

A home inspector may be able to give you some idea of costs, but if you are concerned, it is always best to ask a contractor for an estimate. In many places home inspectors are not allowed to quote prices for repairs as it is considered a conflict of interest.

Don’t feel guilty if you feel that you have to re-negotiate the price. It is your money and you have every right in the world to spend your money wisely. If you notice that there are several smaller aspects of the home that need attention, you should keep that in mind.

Individually they may not cost you a lot of money, but once you start adding up all the little details in the home inspection report, and you start seeing dollar signs in front of your eyes, you should do something about it.

 

When looking over these problems keep in mind that no home is perfect. The focus should be on larger problems and not common maintenance issues.

 

You should consult with your real estate agent and figure out what are reasonable requests and what aren’t. It is never acceptable to ask for repairs of issues you knew about before making your offer. The home inspection is to find out about things you were not aware of. The point is it’s not for using it as a tool to re-negotiate. Those buyers who do this, end up creating a needlessly tense transaction.

Ask for the larger problems to be corrected either by a contractor or by getting a closing cost credit so you can deal with them yourself after the closing.

Final Thoughts

It is vital to avoid some of the most common home inspection mistakes like choosing the cheapest home inspection. The saying “you get what you pay for” certainly holds true when it comes to home inspections. Make sure you ask around for references from family, friends and your real estate agent if you have trust in them. Saving a couple hundred dollars is silly when you think about the thousands of dollars of problems that could be missed by not hiring the best home inspection professional.

 

That is why, in fact want to consider only an inspector that is InterNACHI certified as they have the highest level of standards in the industry.