What Home Inspectors Look for in House Inspections
As a homeowner, it is essential to understand what home inspectors look for during a home inspection to ensure that your property is safe and in good condition. During a home inspection, inspectors typically search for various issues and concerns that might require attention. These could range from structural problems to potential safety hazards.
An inspection case is a common clause in home purchase agreements, allowing the buyer to identify any significant issues before closing the property. On the other hand, as a seller, you want to know what your auditors are looking for so you can help prepare for their visit and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Therefore, hiring a certified home inspector like White Glove Property Inspections, supported by InterNACHI, is the best way to ensure a potential homebuyer has all the necessary information about the property’s circumstances before investing. Home inspectors are professionals trained to inspect homes for safety conditions. We will look inside and outside the home, examine the structure, and check the systems like electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling. Our job is to identify all potential problems, so the buyer knows what they are getting into.
What home inspectors look for
The inspector will start outside the home looking for signs of damage, such as cracks in the foundation and siding, and check for signs of water damage. The inspector will also inspect the roof, gutters, and chimney for wear and tear or damage. They will check for visible signs of pests or infestation, including termites or carpenter ants.
The interior of the house is also part of the inspection. The inspector will inspect all rooms, including the kitchen and bathrooms, and check for signs of water damage, mold, or other structural problems. They also check windows and doors for wear and tear or damage.
The inspector also checks that all appliances, including the furnace and boiler, work properly. They look for safety concerns like carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Home inspectors will also inspect all electrical systems to check for wiring problems, short circuits, or overloaded circuits. They review the plumbing, including water pipes and drains, to confirm they are in good condition.
Home Inspection Checklist
To ensure that the home receives a proper comprehensive examination, home inspectors use a home inspection checklist for various reasons. A home checklist is a tool that provides a step-by-step guide for the inspector to help investigate every aspect of the home with consistency and accuracy, making it easier to identify any issues or discrepancies.
A home inspection checklist is a vital part of the home inspection for any home buyer to safeguard their investment in a good quality home. It is a comprehensive list of items to check for potential ownership issues. The checklist covers many things, including the home’s exterior, interior, electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC system, and roof. It also covers many elements of a property that are invisible to the naked eye, such as the foundation, insulation, and ventilation.
What the Home Inspection Checklist Covers
Grounds
A home inspector begins the inspection by looking for existing or potential water problems, such as standing puddles, defective sorting, or downspouts. They also Inspect the landscaping to ensure trees and shrubs are in good condition. The evaluation includes paths, retaining walls, storerooms, and railings.
Roof
A home inspection looks for roof-related defects such as shingles, flashing, and glazing. All of these can cause ceiling drips and crawlspace leaks: loose gutters, faulty chimneys, and skylights.
Interior rooms
Inspectors are concerned about leaning walls that indicate faulty framing; stained ceilings that could point to water problems; adequate insulation behind the walls; and insufficient heating vents that could make a room cold and drafty.
Electrical systems
Inspectors will check if the visible wiring and electrical panels are in good shape, light switches and the HVAC systems work correctly, and there are enough outlets in each room.
Kitchen
Inspectors make sure range hood fans vent to the outside; ground-fault circuit interrupter protection exists for electrical outlets within 6 feet of a sink; no leaks occur under the sink; and cabinet doors and drawers operate properly.
Structure
For buyers looking to buy older properties, the structure is a particularly important part of the property tour. This process includes examining how solid the building foundation is according to homebuilder guidelines, analyzing whether the sides are straight, and measuring whether the window and door frames are square.
Exterior
A home inspection checks the siding and attic for cracks, rot, peeling brickwork near basements, cracked stucco, dents, or bends in vinyl, and blistering or peeling paint.
Plumbing
Inspectors are evaluating pipes, drains, water heaters, and water pressure and temperature. Beyond plumbing issues, they may also look for water damage.
Windows, Doors, Trims
If you want to keep heat in, cold out, and energy bills low, windows and doors must be in good working condition. The inspector will see if frames are secure and without rot, caulking is solid and secure, and glass is undamaged.
Bathrooms
The goal here is to inspect toilets to see that they’re flushing. The inspection also makes sure drains are draining, showers are spraying, and tubs are securely fastened.
This checklist is based upon the International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection, which is located at www.nachi.org/sop.
In conclusion, what home inspectors look for in home inspections are potential home problems to help a buyer make an informed home decision. White Glove Property Inspections provide peace of mind to potential homebuyers, knowing that the inspector has the qualifications and experience to perform a thorough home inspection. We can also advise and suggest repairs on upgrades that can best protect your purchase. Home inspectors are an invaluable tool to help buyers evaluate a home before they buy.
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