Buying a home is a long and quite stressful process. A home inspection is one of the many steps you have to take when purchasing homes for sale.
It’s an important part of the process because it helps the buyer determine if the house is worth their money and doesn’t have any major undisclosed issues.
Here is a brief list of things to check during your home inspection process.
Get a General House Inspection
Firstly, you need to get an overview and examination of the entire home to make sure everything works like it’s supposed to. This covers main areas like the roof, foundation, electrical system, appliances, etc.
Inspecting a house requires deep knowledge of all the parts of a home and the right tools for the job, so it’s essential to choose an experienced home inspector for the job. Most home inspectors start by inspecting the exterior of the home and move on to a thorough investigation of the interior.
Know How to Handle Mold
Mold is one of the main things that a home inspector will look for because most home buyers get discouraged from buying the home if they see it. What many people don’t realize is that mold is common and most homes wind up with mold anyway over time.
What really matters is the severity. It could just be a simple mold problem that the current owner can fix himself in no time. Or, it could be one that causes serious health problems, like common mold or Stachybotrys chartarum, that have to be dealt with right away.
Search for Insects and Rodents
Another major issue you need to look out for in a house is pests or rodents. Almost all old homes occasionally deal with a mouse problem or two, but that’s nowhere near the horror of actual pest infestation.
For instance, termites in the home could cause serious structural damage if not taken care of. Whether it’s a termite problem or a few bats in your attic, you need to know about it and be ready to deal with it if you still want to buy the home.
Inspect the Smoke Detectors
In many places in the world, it is legally required for homes being sold to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A home inspection can help with determining the functionality of the detectors and whether they are up to current regulations.
Look for Signs of Age
While buying old houses can be wonderful at times, and some properties come at a very cheap price with a magnificent look from the outside, it’s often the case that you’ll need to do some major upgrades.
For instance, old windows aren’t energy efficient, cast iron or clay pipes wear out over time, the old wiring could become a fire hazard, and so on. So if you’re planning to buy an old home, thoroughly inspect each nook and cranny of the home and be prepared to spend more than you expect.
