It's a great question but maybe more importantly, "Who are you going to look for to perform your home inspection?"
We will begin with the basics.
Home inspections are designed to thoroughly examine the property to assess the overall condition, identify problems that may be present, and to provide assistance in correcting any issues that the home may have. Part of this is to check the important household systems, including electrical, cooling/heating, and plumbing, as well as the roof.
We will further examine the roof inspection. The home inspector will usually go into the attic itself in order to look for signs of leakage or other problems, and then move on to the outside after taking notes; the type of roof, approximate age and any vulnerable areas like vents, skylights and chimneys that penetrate the roofing membrane, as well as valleys where roof lines meet and flashing details.
It's hard to tell from the outside, so going in the attic and looking at the place that the exterior wall connects to the roof is necessary. Does the leak come from this spot? In this example, it's not. A plumbing vent could be the culprit, and in that case, the inspector will look in the corresponding place on the exterior of the home that needs to have re-caulking done to repair that section of flashing.
Maintenance must be done every so often on homes, and the inspector will understand this and help to address any issues. In this instance, a local contractor or competent homeowner could surely remedy the issue satisfying both parties that the roof will be fixed and continue to perform as expected for the duration of its usable life.
The most common places that the inspector will examine and provide advice about are:
Electrical systems; Is the home fitted with copper wiring? Is aluminum present or perhaps knob and tube wiring? Is there room in the panel for expansion if you plan on renovating?
Plumbing; What is the life expectancy for your hot water heater? Do you have polybutylene piping for in-floor heating? Is your outside drainage system made with concrete tile or clay, or newer PVC with a 2 tier system?
Heating and cooling units; Is the furnace using energy wisely? Is gas leaking at all? Is your heat pump being cared for correctly?
The roof; What is the life expectancy of your roof, and how soon will it need to be re-done?
The home's interior; Could an fall happen because of loose or worn carpet? Are there any missing door stops? Loose or missing stairwell railings?
Structure; Building codes were followed for the home's original construction, but if there were renovations completed without inspection, is the code followed?
Considerations Related to Safety or Insurance; Do the smoke detectors all function correctly? Are carbon monoxide detectors installed? Does the home have an old or no longer needed oil storage tank system which must be located and assessed by a professional?
An all encompassing home inspection is worth every dollar even on a great home so that you have an overview of ongoing maintenance and peace of mind.
We will begin with the basics.
Home inspections are designed to thoroughly examine the property to assess the overall condition, identify problems that may be present, and to provide assistance in correcting any issues that the home may have. Part of this is to check the important household systems, including electrical, cooling/heating, and plumbing, as well as the roof.
We will further examine the roof inspection. The home inspector will usually go into the attic itself in order to look for signs of leakage or other problems, and then move on to the outside after taking notes; the type of roof, approximate age and any vulnerable areas like vents, skylights and chimneys that penetrate the roofing membrane, as well as valleys where roof lines meet and flashing details.
It's hard to tell from the outside, so going in the attic and looking at the place that the exterior wall connects to the roof is necessary. Does the leak come from this spot? In this example, it's not. A plumbing vent could be the culprit, and in that case, the inspector will look in the corresponding place on the exterior of the home that needs to have re-caulking done to repair that section of flashing.
Maintenance must be done every so often on homes, and the inspector will understand this and help to address any issues. In this instance, a local contractor or competent homeowner could surely remedy the issue satisfying both parties that the roof will be fixed and continue to perform as expected for the duration of its usable life.
The most common places that the inspector will examine and provide advice about are:
Electrical systems; Is the home fitted with copper wiring? Is aluminum present or perhaps knob and tube wiring? Is there room in the panel for expansion if you plan on renovating?
Plumbing; What is the life expectancy for your hot water heater? Do you have polybutylene piping for in-floor heating? Is your outside drainage system made with concrete tile or clay, or newer PVC with a 2 tier system?
Heating and cooling units; Is the furnace using energy wisely? Is gas leaking at all? Is your heat pump being cared for correctly?
The roof; What is the life expectancy of your roof, and how soon will it need to be re-done?
The home's interior; Could an fall happen because of loose or worn carpet? Are there any missing door stops? Loose or missing stairwell railings?
Structure; Building codes were followed for the home's original construction, but if there were renovations completed without inspection, is the code followed?
Considerations Related to Safety or Insurance; Do the smoke detectors all function correctly? Are carbon monoxide detectors installed? Does the home have an old or no longer needed oil storage tank system which must be located and assessed by a professional?
An all encompassing home inspection is worth every dollar even on a great home so that you have an overview of ongoing maintenance and peace of mind.
About the Author:
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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