What You Need to Know About Your Home Inspection
You will think that you have found the house you are looking for based on the information provided by the seller, the view of the house and its location. You may think you are paying a fair price for this piece of real estate. However, if the home inspection reveals a costly problem that will require a lot of work to fix, would you still feel the same way about that house?
Almost every home inspection is done in the same way as a new home, reporting some issues that need fixing or suggestions for improving the property. That said, not everything that is reported in a home inspection is of great importance. Some things, such as for example a broken lock, can be fixed with a few dollars and without much effort.
- Structural Elements of home- If the roof needs repair, the foundation is defective, or the structure is not good, then it will probably be a problem that will be costly to fix. This can include water problems, such as water in the basement that accumulates when it rains.
- Plumbing System: If there is a complicated plumbing system problem, it can be expensive and difficult to repair. However, if the problem is limited to a small area, such as a sink, then it will not be a problem of significance.
- Furnace and Heating System – A problem with the furnace or heating system is also a safety issue that can be difficult to fix.
- Asbestos – This is not a typical part of a home inspection, but asbestos may be present in the home, so the potential buyer should hire an asbestos inspector to determine the presence of this substance. Vacuuming asbestos can be dangerous as it can result in serious health problems like mesothelioma. Its removal can be expensive.
- Lead Paint: Lead paint, like asbestos, typically is not part of a home inspection, but may be present in homes built before 1978. It is important that your home is tested for paint that is lead and that all that exists be removed from the building, especially if young children or pregnant women are going to live in it.
Other aspects, such as problems with individual and cosmetic artifacts, such as stained rugs or torn wallpaper, are usually insignificant and do not cause rejection of an offer to purchase a real estate.