Your Search Is Over. You Have Found The Home Of Your Dreams And It’s Perfect. But Is It? Like A Calm Day On The Water, You Can Only See What’s On The Surface. A home inspection can help you avoid hidden costs when buying a home?
A Home Inspection Can Uncover Problems That Could Lead To Additional, Unexpected Costs. If Too Many Issues Are Found, You Will Most Likely Have The Right To Back Out Of The Transaction. At The Very Least, You Can Try To Renegotiate The Price Based On The Cost Of Repairs.
Our Home Inspectors Have Years Of Experience, And They Will Evaluate The Property Looking For Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, And Structural Issues. We Will Provide The Buyer With A Comprehensive Report Detailing Problems With The Home — Both Big And Small.
The 10 most-common home inspection Concerns
Cosmetic flaws and minor repairs, like a broken windowpane, for example, might come up in an inspection report. However, these small items will rarely cause a deal to unravel. It’s the costly and often hidden problems that can cause a buyer to back out or ask for money off of the contract price. Here are some of the most common things that are identified on a home inspection. Being aware of these concerns will help you avoid the hidden cost associated with any repairs.
- Concern #1: Roofing
Asphalt shingle roofs last 15 to 20 years. If yours is nearing the end of its life, don’t be surprised to see it come up in the inspection report. Inspectors will call out brittle, curled, or broken shingles, and any loose flashing or leaky spots. A severely neglected roof could cost $10,000 or more to replace.
- Concern #2: Drainage
Surface grading around a home can cause serious drainage issues and foundation damage. Improper grading can lead to leaky basements, causing mildew and other problems. It can also create spongy soil that causes foundations to shift. Gutter drain placement can also cause erosion around the foundation with leads to more issues.
- Concern #3: Foundations
Foundation problems are one of the costliest issues to fix, in some cases in excess of $10,000. Signs of foundation issues include doors and windows that stick, cracks in walls above doorways, sloping floors, and L-shaped or horizontal cracks in the visible parts of the exterior foundation. The cracks in the wall may be due to foundation problems or related to internal structural issues. Identifying the cause is important.
- Concern #4: Plumbing
Damaged pipes, malfunctioning water heaters, and backed-up sewage systems are costly to fix and common things that fail a home inspection. Some types of plumbing pipes found in older homes, such as those made from polybutylene, have been discontinued and are prone to failure. Home inspectors will report these incompatible plumbing materials.
Concern #5: Infestations
There is nothing that will send some homebuyers running quite like an infestation of pests, especially termites. Termites and other wood-eating insects can cause significant structural damage if left untreated. A home inspector is trained to identify signs of termites; however, your buyer might also want to perform a separate termite inspection with a pest control company for additional peace of mind.
- Concern #6: Hidden mold
Discovering mold during inspection can spell (and smell) trouble. Extensive mold infestations can be costly to remediate. But if you don’t detect musty odors in your home then you probably don’t have to worry. Mold is caused by excessive moisture and is usually a sign of a leak or drainage issue. Mold is also known to cause health related issues.
- Concern #7: Heating (and Air Conditioning) systems
A failing furnace can turn off buyers due to the $5,000 to $8,000 replacement cost. Other issues include non-working controls, blocked chimneys, damaged heat exchangers, and exhaust flues that are not up to code. Winters in Connecticut are cold ad summers can be hot. This is another hidden cost to avoid.
Concern#8: Electrical
Home inspectors commonly encounter problems with electrical wiring such as reverse polarity, missing junction boxes, improper circuit loads, and damaged receptacles. Homes built between 1965 and 1973 may have inferior aluminum wiring, a concern that a home inspector will also identify. Not only is the loss of electricity a nuisance but there is always the potential for fire.
- Concern #9: Structural damage
Older homes are prone to structural issues such as sagging floor joists, rafters, and door headers. It may not be immediately apparent if a structural issue is major or minor, and many home inspectors will advise buyers to have the home inspected by an engineer if that is the case. Evaluating the foundation, load bearing walls, and other aspects of the structure are part of the inspection.
- Concern #10: Poor maintenance
While cosmetic issues like peeling paint and cracked caulk aren’t major problems on their own, an accumulation of small problems could be a big turn-off for some buyers. Having numerous problems can signal to an inspector, and the buyer, that the home has been poorly maintained.
Greenwich Home Inspections – Your Professional Resource
The best way to avoid these problems is to have a buyer’s home inspection done by the pros at Greenwich Home Inspections. Upon completion of our inspection, you will receive a detailed report outlining each area of the inspection and what was found. Armed with this report, you can make an informed buying decision about the house of your dreams. Avoid any potential hidden costs. Call us today!