A home inspection is part of the home buying process. This inspection is performed by a third-party professional who can provide an unbiased, unbiased visual examination and test the home’s systems to ensure everything is working properly. With stricter legislation at the state and federal level, home inspections have become increasingly important, so a professional opinion is essential.

A well-known home inspection company is usually contacted for this examination. These professionals know home construction, maintenance and security and know how systems are supposed to work or why they don’t. They are typically certified professionals who have passed a written exam and met rigorous standards to be inspectors. These people are up to date with the latest technology and materials along with the skills required to perform these inspections.

They will examine the physical condition of the home and let you know what systems or items need repair or replacement. At the end of the inspection, a detailed report is prepared and presented to the buyer to inform them of any potential issues or problems or non-functioning items. This written report will provide you with a lot of information you might not have otherwise known or considered and will bring you up to speed on everything related to your purchase.

Identifying a problem doesn’t mean it needs to be fixed or changed, it just tells you about all the conditions of the home you plan to buy. This information will be important to you and may lead you to ask the seller to make repairs if a serious problem is identified.

Some important questions to ask your home inspector are:

– How long have you been in the home inspection business and how many home inspections have you completed? If little time has passed, you can ask for the help of a more experienced inspector.
– What areas will the inspection cover? If there are particular areas you wish to cover, you must request that they be included as well.
– What type of report will I receive and when will I receive it? The usual time is within 24 hours or soon after.
– Will I be able to attend the inspection? You can and should be there for the inspection, as it is valuable to be able to hear what the inspector has to say and voice any questions or concerns while you are there.
– Do you continue to attend additional educational and training programs that will keep you current? Most of these professionals are required to keep up with the latest training if they are part of a state or national association of inspectors.

When you have your inspection and then receive your written report, it is important to know what problems that have been identified are potentially the most serious. These are problems that could be considered a reason not to continue with the purchase of this home:

– Foundation cracks are the main concerns, however it is important to know the reason for the cracks and whether repairs or replacement are feasible or if too much water may have collected outside the foundation or caused the cracks .
– Wiring in an older house, especially, should be carefully checked. If the wiring has been updated that is fine, however it is important to know if the current owner has the house up to date in terms of technical needs for a family that will be using computers and has other technical needs that an older couple might not have. Dyed.
– Stains on walls or ceilings may indicate a leaky ceiling or a leak in an upstairs bathroom. It is important to ask if there have been any issues and make sure they have been addressed if there have been.
– Fresh paint could indicate that the owner is covering up a problem area rather than just renovating the house for sale, especially if the paint is only on an isolated area.
– If reforms have been made in the house, it is important to know if the load-bearing walls have been removed or have been maintained. Drawings of any renovation work should be requested to ensure there is no potential physical damage, even if you don’t see sagging ceilings or floors or cracks.
– All windows or doors should be checked to make sure they open and close properly and have also been properly sealed.
– The exterior siding of the house must not show stains in the wood or cracks in the bricks or stucco or lack of mortar. In colder climates, cracks must be sealed to prevent further deterioration.
– Have the inspector check for termites or other pests that may reside in your attic or other areas of the house. Some areas require a termite inspection as well.
– Sagging floors with slopes are signs of trouble, so make sure someone checks it out as soon as possible.
– Watch for dry rot or dampness or decay on patio decks or porches or other areas for fungal decay.

These major issues need not deter you from buying the home, but unless the seller is willing to pay for the required repairs or replacement, it may not be worth buying if you know ahead of time that you will have major expenses. However, if he plans to do a major renovation after moving in, then he can take care of some of these issues that the seller isn’t willing to accommodate.

If your seller will honor repairs or replacement prior to closing, it is essential that a reputable repairer or licensed professional be used. As a buyer, it is recommended that you ensure this occurs by asking to see the licenses and/or permits required to complete the work.

Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspections (866) 476-2056
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