INSPECTION REPORTS - A Question and Answer GuidePosted by Stokes Gold on May 19th, 2021 A home inspection can be an evaluation of the visible and accessible systems and the different parts of a home (plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical, structure, roof, etc.) and is intended to give the client (buyer, seller, or homeowner) an improved knowledge of the home's general condition. Most often it is a buyer who requests an inspection of the home he or she is serious about purchasing. A house inspection delivers data so that decisions about the purchase could be confirmed or questioned, and can uncover serious and/or expensive to repair defects that the seller/owner will not be aware of. It is not an appraisal of the property's value; nor does it address the expense of repairs. It generally does not guarantee that the house complies with local building codes or protect litigant in the event an item inspected fails later on. [Note: Warranties can be purchased to cover many items.] A home inspection shouldn't be considered a "technically exhaustive" evaluation, but instead an evaluation of the property on the day it is inspected, considering normal wear and tear for the home's age and location. A house inspection may also include, for extra fees, Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections, and many other specific items that could be indigenous to the region of the country where in fact the inspection takes place. Home inspections may also be used (less often) by way of a seller before listing the house to see if there are any hidden problems that they're unaware of, and also by homeowners simply wishing to look after their homes, prevent surprises, and keep carefully the home investment value as high as you possibly can. The important results to pay attention to in a home inspection are: 1. Major defects, such as for example large differential cracks in the building blocks; structure out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported properly, etc. They are items that are expensive to fix, which we classify as items requiring more than 2% of the purchase price to repair. 2. Things that could lead to major defects - a roof flashing leak which could get bigger, damaged downspouts which could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied into the structure properly. 3. Safety hazards, such as for example an exposed electrical wiring, insufficient GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) in kitchens and bathrooms, lack of safety railing on decks a lot more than 30 inches off the ground, etc. Your inspector will help you about what to do about these problems. He/she may recommend evaluation - and on serious issues most certainly will - by licensed or certified professionals that are specialists in the defect areas. For example, your inspector will recommend you call an authorized building engineer should they find sections of the house that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency. Home Inspections are only done by a buyer after they sign a contract, right? home inspection Hamilton This is not true! As you will see when you read on, a home inspection can be utilized for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current homeowner, a proactive technique by sellers to make their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the health of the potential home.Like it? Share it! |