Things That Will Immediately Ruin Your Home Inspection
The utilities have been turned off.
As you prepare for a home inspection, keep in mind the inspector will need to operate all of the systems and appliances that pass on with the house. This includes everything from the dishwasher, to the HVAC systems, and even the irrigation system. If the home inspector cannot evaluate a system because the utility service is off, these will be identified as systems which could not be properly inspected.
The inspector is unable to access important areas.
In order to perform a proper home inspection, the inspector must be able to access almost every part of the house. This includes opening and inspecting inside electrical panels, attic spaces, crawl spaces, etc. The seller will need to remove boxes, bookcases, furniture and anything else blocking access to the furnace, air conditioner, panels, and water heater. The inspector will need three to four feet of working space to inspect these items.
The buyers lose sight of the purpose of the inspection.
The purpose of a home inspection is to find out if there are severe structural or mechanical defects. For those that don’t buy and sell homes every day, it is important to understand that the issues should be large enough that they could have a significant impact on the use and enjoyment of the home now and in the future. A home inspection should not be to itemize every minor defect with the home you expect the seller to fix. A stain on the carpet or a smudge on a painted wall are not structural or mechanical defects. And as such, are not noted as “deficiencies” during a home inspection. An excellent buyer’s agent should be able to provide counsel on what is worth focusing on and what should be considered trivial.
The buyers are not present for the inspection.
When it comes time for the home inspection, the would-be home buyer should plan to be there. Again, buying a home is a huge investment, and the buyer has a right to attend. Not only that, but the buyer will likely learn a lot about the house. This may include where gas, water and electric shut-off valves are located and age/lifespan of appliances and systems. If you aren’t able to be on-site for the entire inspection, try to carve out at least 30 minutes near the end of the inspection so the inspector can go over his or her findings with you,
The buyers do not return the service agreement.
This will not “ruin” your inspection, per se. However, many inspectors will not release their written report to you until this document is signed and returned. Why? Home inspectors are service providers, and when an inspector agrees to perform services for a client, they are entering into a legal contract. The inspector promises to do the work, and the client promises to pay for it. The agreement spells out the terms of the contract and should be read, signed, and returned to the inspector by the buyer BEFORE the inspection is performed. If not, it may cause a delay in the delivery of the report.
Home Inspection Tips for Buyers
You just bought a house. Well, sort of. Pending the most stressful condition of the deal, for sellers and buyers – the home inspection! With home inspections, it seems there is a ton of different ways to view them. But for the sake of expediency, we have compiled our own list of important things to keep in mind in the event of you buying a home subject to home inspection:
While it’s tempting to use a friend who knows a lot about homes, that usually doesn’t end well. Listen, we do get the appeal…if they’re a friend or relative they are trustworthy. But, compared to what? You and your friends? Sure. But it’s hard for most people to know if that extends to the level of properly inspecting electrical, plumbing, structural integrity, etc. Even if they do know a lot, the good home inspectors are trained in categorizing serious issues/medium issues/small things to keep an eye on. Many times those friends and relatives do not possess this skill and just We recommend hiring someone who has a great local reputation
Be there. This might seem like common sense, but a lot of people don’t make a concerted effort to attend the walkthrough with inspectors these days, since they provide comprehensive reports after each inspection. Do yourself a favour and show up! Those reports are huge and can be overwhelming for many people. Plus, if you don’t show up you can’t
Ask questions. Most walkthroughs are around an hour long. That’s a lot to digest. Stop him along the way, don’t be afraid to ask for his advice on these fixes, in terms of difficulty, time, cost, all that.
And while we’re at it, it’s a wise idea to make notes of how much all of these fixes will likely cost. Keep a running talley. Sometimes you’ll hear a ton of fixes throughout the walkthrough, and then calculate it’s only a few thousand bucks. Other times it seems like there’s only a few hiccups, but they’ll run you ten-fifteen thousand. This is important, not just for your own budget calculations,
Home Inspection Checklist to Prepare for an Easy Sale
Your home might be under contract, but the work is far from over. One of the most stress-inducing aspects of selling your home is a visit from the home inspector. A home inspection has become a standard part of the home buying process, so don’t be surprised when prospective buyers put your home under significant scrutiny.
The sooner you prepare yourself and your home, the more smoothly this process will go. If you’re looking to sell your house, it’s already time to start preparing for this inspection. By prepping yourself in advance, you’ll know exactly what home inspectors look for instead of finding out the hard way and scrambling last minute.
Checklist of General Items a Home Inspector Looks Over
This list is not comprehensive since every state has different regulations and not all inspectors are certified. Also, not all certifications are created equal. Since the buyer is usually the one purchasing the inspection, you won’t necessarily have a say in the inspector’s credentials. As a buyer, look for an inspector with a legitimate certification
Electrical
Checks for signs of old knob-and-tube wiring.
Examines the electrical service and determines if there is adequate capacity.
Sees if all electrical components are up to code and will recommend any updates as needed
Checklist to Complete Before a Home Inspection
To stay on top of things, here is a checklist of stuff you can do before the home inspection to make sure all goes smoothly.
Electrical Home Inspection
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ELECTRICAL HOME INSPECTIONS
Concerned About Your Electrical Wiring?
We provide thorough electrical home inspections. Many home inspectors lack the background and training of what to look for during a proper electrical inspection
Reasons for an Electrical Home Inspection
One of the top leading causes of residential fires is electrical malfunctions.
If you live in a house that is thirty years or older, it is a good idea to get an electrical inspection. If your home is fifty years or older and you are experiencing electrical problems, it is critical
Inspection Includes
electrical home inspections are thorough and include not just visible inspections but actual electrical readings and testing of your home’s electrical systems
Below are some of the specific things we inspect.
• Electrical Panel
• Loose Breakers
• Wiring Damage
• Burn Marks by Wiring
• Smoke Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Confirmation of Grounding System
• Light Bulb Wattage
• Two-pronged Outlets
• Switches
• Wall Outlets
• GFCI Outlets
• Electrocution Hazards
• Surge Protectors
• Safety & Security Lighting
• Aluminum Wiring
• Outdoor Electrical Examination