Categories: Home Inspection

Common Things Home Inspectors Usually Look Into

Are you out in the market to sell your home, then a home inspector is what you need. Know how to choose a right home inspector to check out your home and know the most common things home inspectors usually look into. Generally, the primary task of home inspectors is to examine and determine the present condition of a house or real estate property, to make sure if the house needs to have improvements or need minor or major repairs. This process is also conducted to ensure the protection and reliability of a house being sold in the market, which ultimately redounds to the assurance of protection and safety to the client or customer. The home inspection process can also be beneficial in determining if proper construction or repair standards have been observed. Professional home inspectors are carefully trained, and in the case of most regions in the United States, most home inspectors need to have a license in order for them to carry out their tasks. After the home inspection process, a home inspection report is required as a pre-requisite before a home can either be bought or sold. A home inspector also has equipment used to assess structural integrity and longevity of most materials a house is made of, which is a key indicator whether the property being examined is indeed safe or livable. A common checklist among home inspectors includes the examination of the following: For the exterior part, it would include the home exterior and the surrounding perimeter. This is so since it has to be checked if the house is standing on solid ground or is standing close to environmental factors that could affect the structure’s integrity. The building foundation is also being inspected to determine if the foundation meets standard requirements or is appropriate for the structure. This would also be followed by a check on the exterior home walls, roof coverings, flashings and gutters, as well as plumbing fixtures. For the interior of the home, a home inspector would surely not miss inspecting the basement, which includes even the crawl space that form part of the basement, including the attic, if there is any. A home inspector will initially check the condition of the home’s interior, especially focusing on areas where there could be signs of structural stress or decay, as well as inspect if there is a need for minor or major repairs. This will also include checking for quality of insulation for the home, as well as the existing electrical system and visible plumbing fixtures. The garage is also one area that should not be missed out during the inspection process, as it also forms part of the house structure. There is no pass or fail rating during a home inspection process and it is different from a municipal or regulatory home inspection that determines whether the local building code of a certain state or territory is complied with. The value of a good home inspector and his professional services is not primarily focused on regulatory compliance, but is more of a process to protect the buyer or seller from substandard or faulty construction practices. It is key for every homeowner to know common things home inspectors usually look into, because it will not only save you the time, but also the inconvenience of having a home inspector come back and check for what has been initially reported that required action and attention.