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Home inspectors are important when buying or selling a house as they provide a home inspection service to to help identify and prioritize what's needed for home maintenance. When you plan to buy a home, you might want to perform a realistic assessment of the house before hand and investing in a home inspection will confirm if the house has been well maintained and help you avoid surprises that could cost tens of thousands. If you plan to sell your house, hire home inspectors to identify problems that you can fix before prospective buyers find them. The largest number of prospective buyers will view your home during the first few weeks it's on the market so there will be no problem in property assessments. Home Inspections: Inclusions and Extras A home inspection includes most exterior and interior systems in a house, although they vary by state and even local customs, as well as the training and practices of your home inspectors professional association. There are also things that home inspectors can't see like the wiring, plumbing and insulation inside the walls. • Exterior inspection checklist used by home inspectors includes - the roof and chimney, vents, skylights, flashing and trim at the edge of the roof; gutters, downspouts, grading away from house and drainage; siding, windows, doors and exterior trim; basement, crawlspace, foundation and water penetration problems; decks, porches, railings and walkways. • Interior systems that home inspectors review include heating and cooling systems plus insulation and ventilation; interior plumbing fixtures, faucets, hot water heater and water pressure; electrical service from the main service box, the electrical panels, breakers and fuses with appropriate grounding throughout the house, i.e. GFIs and AFCIs. • Home inspectors will review optional items like sump pumps, fireplace operations, garage doors and more. There are many specialty inspections which don't apply to every home. Here is a list that identifies those you'll have to arrange for after your initial inspection. You might want to schedule the items below in parallel to meet the cutoff date set in your purchase agreement. • Water and septic systems should be tested if your house isn't on city water and sewer. • Indoor air quality is affected by air borne gases. When we build more air-tight houses to lower heating and cooling costs, it's crucial to check air quality (test for radon, methane, radiation and formaldehyde) and you may need an air exchanger. • Home inspectors should identify water damage and wood rot. Further testing may be required to determine the extent of the damage and the type of remediation needed to remove mold, mildew, carpenter ants, etc. • Lead-based paints were commonly used in homes built before 1978. If you're buying an older home you'll want to know if there's lead as it will increase home maintenance and remodeling costs. You need to take lead paint seriously as it can harm children and is dangerous for pregnant women. • Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can cause problems when it's disturbed. It's found in older homes where building materials used asbestos for its fiber strength and ability to resist heat -- roofing shingles, siding, insulation wrapped around duct work, and ceiling and floor tiles. Tina Gleisner, founder of the Association of Women Home Owners connects homeowners with concepts, terminology and advice to build homes that support today's lifestyles. Through the library and directory at www.HomeTips4Women.com, you can LEARN more about how to maintain and repair your home and more.
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