Between building a new house and buying an existing property, choosing the latter will save your time and effort. It can only take weeks or even days to find a lovely family home on the market. Meanwhile, you will have to wait for a couple of months before you can move into a newly constructed house. And that is only if you are quick to find a land property in a peaceful and safe neighbourhood as well as trustworthy builders you can work with.
Nothing matches the excitement of finally finding the house of your dreams, built at an amazing location, and listed at a price you can afford. However, these selling points cannot be your only bases to close a deal. To avoid paying for hidden repair or restoration costs, make sure to inspect the entire property thoroughly. Here are 7 crucial areas you have to cover when conducting a home inspection.
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Foundation
When touring around a property, it should be among your top priorities to check if the house is structurally sound. House structures that are built years or a decade ago have usually developed foundation issues that can be costly to repair. Check if there are horizontal cracks on the walls, leaning or sunken outdoor structures, and sagging or uneven floors. After investigating the issues yourself or with help from the pros, you may directly ask the seller about the house’s foundation. In most cases, sellers or agents are required by law to disclose structural issues.
Roof
Roof installations and repairs are very expensive, so you might want to reconsider buying a house property with an old or worn-out roofing system. Missing shingles or tiles, small holes, and moss buildup are clear signs you need to rule out the property if you are not open about paying extra for a roofing project. When personally inspecting the roof, do not forget to check the attic crawlspace for any signs of leaks or water damage.
Doors and windows
Doors and windows are the main entry points to a home’s interior, thus ensuring its durable and strong build is crucial. While you can choose to upgrade the security system of a property, replacing the doors and windows might disrupt the elegant flow of design in the property interior and exterior.
Garage
When looking at houses, always consider if there is a secured garage space for your car possessions. Like doors and windows, garages are an essential part of a property’s security system. A highly functional automated garage door system can be a potential selling point of a property.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
If you are looking for a house where you can move in right away, you have to narrow down your choices to properties with a readily available and functional HVAC system. For a household to run safely and comfortably, it should have a smoothly functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Get help from the pros to determine the system’s needs and lifespan.
An efficient HVAC design can not only improve the indoor air quality but also promote human comfort and energy efficiency. It is highly recommended to consult to a professional HVAC engineering team to ensure the heating and cooling needs are taken care of effectively.
Electrical
An electrical checkup is an essential part of a home inspection. Checking to see if the wirings, components, and other appliances meet relevant standards or local codes is crucial to the overall safety of your family. Make sure to know everything about a home’s electrical system, so you can efficiently respond to emergencies when living in the property.
Plumbing
Poor plumbing is a major turn-off for home buyers. After all, no one wants to deal with a bad pipe smell, inefficient water flow, and flooding problems in a home. During a home inspection, here are relevant plumbing features you should look at:
Sinks and toilets
Running the sinks and toilets will give you an idea of the water pressure and the plumbing situation in a home. Check for leaks beneath and around the fixtures and if water pools in the drain pipe.
Main sewer drain
There is always the possibility of sewer damage, especially in older homes, which is commonly caused by collapsed concrete and growing tree roots. Sewer inspection is not easy and requires help from a plumbing contractor.
Water heater
Water heaters are a must-have in a home since it provides hot water on demand. Strange noises in the tank, valve leaks, and the presence of rust and corrosion are tell-tale signs of a deteriorating plumbing equipment.
Casual plumbing inspections are not enough to determine the overall health of a property’s plumbing system. To save yourself from costly plumbing repairs or replacements, hire the service of licensed and experienced professionals to do a detailed home inspection for you.
