Important Facts a Home Inspection Tells You

     Home inspections are objective identification on the defects in the structure, components and systems of a house in accordance to national, provincial and industry regulations and standards. Whether you are a buyer, seller, real estate agent or a lending company, an inspection performed by a professional home inspector could give your first hand information on the true state of the home.

     A home inspection is very essential since a home is the usually the largest investment one makes. Homebuyers want to protect their investment, so they would order a house inspection. If a seller is aware of the defects beforehand, they can attend to them first or inform prospective buyers who come to look at the house. If an inspection reveals major and costly problems, the seller who is unwilling to take the cost, can deduct the asking price to compensate the buyer.

Here are some facts a home inspection could tell you.

1. Inspections could reveal if there are wood destroying pests in the home. A pest inspection does not only reveal termites or powder post beetles, but also dry rot.

2. A home inspection will see to it that chimney smoke is discharged properly. It could also reveal if the inside of the chimney is crumbling.

3. An electrical inspection could tell you if the electrical box is so old and it no longer complies with the city code. Seek the advice of a licensed electrician about the best brands to use and their cost.

4. In home inspections, the furnaces have to be taken apart to find out why it is malfunctioning or if it has cracked. A specialist can tell you what is wrong and the expenses involved in having it fixed or replaced.

5.  You can do a lead-based paint test. To remove lead-based paints, you have to hire a certified lead abatement contractor.

6. Inspections also verify the exact area of the property. Public records are done manually and could be erroneous. You can calculate the square footage of the area yourself or hire an appraiser.

7.  The home inspector tells you if the home was built on slab or raised foundation, but for a thorough inspection, you can hire the services of an engineer to tell you if the home is sliding or the foundation is faulty.

8. An inspection of the roof reveals if it should be replaced. The roof is important since you have the plumbing there. Problems on roof normally occur between the sixth and the ninth year of the life span of the roof. The roof usually lasts between 25-30 years.

9. Inspection on the water systems and plumbing is necessary. It can tell you if the plumbing has to be replaced and if the galvanized pipes are so clogged that it is even hard to fit a lead of a pencil through it.

10. Mold presence is also revealed in a house inspection. Molds could trigger health problems and it can be tested by testing the air quality surrounding the house.

     Home inspections reveal so much more than the appearance of a particular home. It does not only give buyers a peace of mind, but also gives the seller confidence in selling his or her home.