Thursday, 2 October 2014

Things To Check Out During a House Inspection?


It is important you carry out a home inspection before you put pen to paper in a home purchase deal. Home buying is an expensive venture and the house inspection should be done right. There are some necessary things that you should check out during a home inspection. When embarking on a home inspection, make sure you or your hired professional house inspector checks the following:

Structural Issues

One of the most important things you should look out for while inspecting a home is structural defects. Make sure you check the foundation of the building for any foundational defects. Check for the walls for any cracks or any sign that might prove that the house has a structural defect. It is best to avoid buying a house with structural defects in order to avoid problems down the road.

Electrical Problems
A number of house fires are usually traced to electrical faults, so it is imperative you check your house for any electrical faults before moving in. You should check the building’s wiring, main panel, circuit breakers for any faults. Check if the correct type of wires were used and if the fuses installed are of the correct capacity. Make sure all electrical faults are fixed before you move into your house.

Plumbing Issues

Plumbing issues can cost you a lot of money if not identified before moving into a house. When checking for plumbing problems, flush all toilets, check all taps for faults and also check all drains for proper drainage. Check showers and sinks and make sure there is no leakage of water anywhere in the house. Check also if the correct materials were used for the plumbing job. Plumbing problems are not easy to spot, so you have to make sure your inspector does a thorough job.

Exterior
The exterior of a property should be checked before purchasing the property. Check out the topography of the land around the property. Does it appear that the water flow towards the foundation walls when it rains or away from the foundation? Ideally, the ground the ground surrounding a house should slope away from the house in order to prevent water from collecting at the base of the house. If you notice a discolouration at the base of the building, that could indicate a continuous moisture problem. Continuous collection of water at the base of a building can weaken the foundation of a building over time and this could create problems for you in future.

The Roof

A house with a leaking roof could prove to be a nightmare to its inhabitants and it is advised that you should check if the roof is leaking before moving in. Your inspector should be able to tell you if the roof is showing signs of leaking or not.

While inspecting, always bear in mind that all houses have little issues, so don’t panic when minor issues come up during inspection. Your inspector should be able to give you a good analysis of the finding and advise you on whether you should go ahead with the purchase or not

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