5 Most Common Home Inspection Issues

The 5 Most Common Home Inspection Issues

When a family buys a home, they buy a lifestyle. Kids grow up in a place they will always think of as home. Cherished memories are made. The neighborhood becomes part of the family’s identity.

A new home is also a huge investment. For many families, mortgage payments, taxes, and home improvements mean their financial well-being is tied to the property. With a family’s financial health hanging in the balance, having a professional home inspection is essential. Home inspections ensure that the American dream will not be interrupted by unanticipated expenses.

There are many crucial areas that home inspections examine. These five are some of the most serious:

Faulty Wiring

Faulty electrical wiring is one of the most common causes of house fires. Thorough home inspections always look at multiple wiring issues that are easy for the average homebuyer to miss.

Older homes often lack adequate power supply for today’s higher demand. Often, extension cords are seen running from room to room as an attempt to correct this problem. A thorough home inspection determines if the power supply is adequate.

Exposed wire is dangerous. Open spliced wire, where wire is conjoined by electrical tape, is particularly hazardous. Wire dangers are often hidden in crawlspaces and attics. A thorough inspection finds these hidden hazards.

Grade Sloping

Every home inspection should look at grade sloping issues. Water damage is one of the most common and difficult to detect problems. When looking at a house during the warm, dry summer months, water damage can seem unlikely. Checking the grade sloping determines if a hidden water problem awaits the homeowner during the wet season.

When the grade sloping drains water back toward the home, water wicks up the foundation. This results in wet crawlspaces, foundation movement, cracking, and settling. In severe cases, wall rot and mold set up expensive repair issues.

Roofing Materials

It is easy to fall in love with a house after a tour. Always remember, home tours do not include a tour of the roof. A thorough home inspection reveals if the roof has potentially expensive repair needs.

Keeping water out is a roof’s main job. Materials need replacement when water begins to seep inside. Sometimes patchwork jobs provide temporary relief, but, ultimately, roof replacements become necessary. All homebuyers should know if a roof replacement could be in their future.

Heating and Cooling System Defects

On a home tour, few homebuyers get a sense of the efficiency and reliability of the HVAC system. Older systems are often dirty and inefficient, which means huge utility bills. Always inquire about the utility-bill costs. These systems have a life expectancy. It is important to have a home inspector determine how long the climate control systems are likely to last. If you could be on the hook for a new HVAC system, it is important to factor that into the purchase price.

Poorly Maintained Home

If the previous owner deferred maintenance and now wants to sell, chances are the previous owner is passing their maintenance costs onto you. A thorough home inspection can reveal if you might get stuck for more maintenance bills than you bargained for.