As a prospective home buyer, you have found the house of your dreams. It looks perfect. But is it? That is a question you will want to make before making sure a major purchase. It’s what you don’t see that becomes the issue.
Many of you may have purchased a car but had a mechanic look it over. They are able to determine condition beyond how the car appears. They check the engine, brakes, transmission, and other components that could fail.
Should you not do the same with a home? In nearly all circumstances, the cost of the car is far less than the home, yet many choose not to have the home inspected as they would that car.
In this article, we will cover typical type of visible damage and share insights regarding what you don’t see.
Roof Damage
The initial inspection may be done by actually accessing the roof, or in this case, be done by drone. The shingle damage in this photograph is evident. The question now becomes “Is replacing the shingles all I have to do?” Without further inspection, you just don’t know. A roof leak has to be a major concern.
A leak won’t happen immediately because of the way shingles are installed. Plus water also has to get through the underlayment and roof decking before it gets into your home.
But if left exposed long enough, a leak will happen and the wood that makes up the decking will rot. On the other hand, your roof could leak pretty quickly if there are nail pops around the missing shingles.
Water will catch these lifted nails and follow them down into the inside of your home. No matter what, you should contact your roofing contractor as soon as you notice missing shingles.
So, the question becomes “how long have the shingles been missing and how much damage could have occurred.”
Hidden Water Damage
The walls all look fine, but a small ripple or stain may be visible. It may appear that it was just someone repainting and doing a poor job. Or, it could be damage that was caused behind the wall.
Plumbing is routed through out the house and many times these pipes are not accessible directly. If a fixture is leaking, visible damage could include the above-mentioned ripples of stains or along the baseboard and flooring. In any case, it is important to discover the source of the damage
Mold and Mildew
We all know that mold in our homes is a bad thing – but exactly how bad is it for your health and your home itself? Typically, “hidden” mold is found behind wallpaper, paneling, and under carpets where water was introduced through leaks.
Mold and your health
Mold spores that land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing can produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances. Continuous exposure to a moldy environment can cause or worsen pre-existing health effects. Seemingly healthy people can also suffer from throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation or nasal stuffiness in a home with high levels of mold. People who are allergic to mold or who have any pre-existing health issues could get serious infections in their lungs that can spread. Those with asthma could see worsened asthmatic symptoms over time due to exposure to mold spores. Some recent studies even suggest a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children.
Discovering this potential health hazard is important to your health and your investment.
Electrical Wiring Issues
When the home is first constructed, the electrical systems will be to code but over time, issues can develop. It is easy to see damage on wiring such as those on appliance cords. But what if the wiring is behind the wall? Was a circuit overloaded? Is the wiring damaged?
Look for potential burn marks in or around an outlet. Take off the wall plate and look behind it. It is easy to replace the wall plate itself.
Has wiring been added or replaced by other than an electrician. This happens more than you would think. Image finding bare wires such as this. If bad enough and arcing occurs, a fire could start.
Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, nearly than 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage. Electrical distribution systems are the third leading cause of home structure fires.
It is far better to catch these potential hazards now rather than later.
Wall And Ceiling Cracks
Ceiling cracks along with sagging indicate a possible structural problem that needs immediate attention. One, big, continuous ceiling crack that goes across the ceiling and down a wall is almost certainly a structural issue.
The cracks may be visible. In many cases, the cracks were repaired. Yet the underlying cause of the damage remains…the foundation.
A weak or damaged foundation will lead to cracks and other damage to the house. Even if there is no visible damage, the foundation should be inspected before you purchase the home
Conclusions
A home inspection will definitely give the buyer peace of mind and put the buyer’s mind at ease that the home is in good shape. It can also become a negotiation tool in closing, and could inform the buyer of potential future maintenance and upkeep. A seller of a home may also request a home inspection before the home is put on the market. This may assist the seller in setting a price, correct any issues with the home before it is put on the market, or merely having a pre-inspection report available for buyers informing them that the seller has nothing to hide.