Home Inspector's Report: What It Could Include - Part 5

A home inspection report will usually be very thorough and highlight features of the property as well as pointing out problems that need fixing either immediately or in the future. The home inspection may report on:

1. Soffit's and Fascia.

The home inspection report will usually state whether the soffit and fascia are wood, aluminum or plastic. The report may reveal details of any loose or missing sections, paint problems, and if there are any visible signs of rot.

2. Porches and Decking

The home inspector will usually thoroughly inspect porches and decks (including the underside) for signs of rotted wood, wood-earth contact, paint problems, cracking or flaking masonry, and report on any separation from the house.

Why You Need To Arrange For A home Inspector's Report?

When buying a property it is normal to arrange a home inspection. A home inspector's report can identify problems like: cracked walls, leaky walls or roofs, breach of firewalls, loose toilets, foundation problems and insect infestations. Many people negotiate repairs as part of the purchase and ask for a "walk through" before finalizing the paperwork on the real estate contract.

Home Inspector's Report: What It Could Include - Part 4

When selling a home it pays to fix minor problems before putting the property on the market. Major problems also need careful consideration and you will need to determine is involved in rectifying the problem(s). What will the costs be, the disruption factor and whether the problem(s) will affect the sale or the sale price.

It is usual for a property to undergo an inspection prior to sale, so be aware that problems exposed in a home inspector's report could potentially delay the sale, lose you the sale, or affect your final selling price or terms of sale.

Here are another two items that might appear on a home inspector's report:

1. Loose Toilets.

Many toilet bowls rest on a wax ring that can deteriorate over a period of time. A faulty wax ring can cause the bowl to move. Although it may not be that noticable, it could show up on a home inspector's report.

Here is how you can check for a faulty wax ring. This might sound a bit strange, but stand facing the toilet bowl with one leg on each sideof the toilet bowl. Squat down a little, and using the inside of your knees, grab the toilet bowl. Rock from side to side, and if the toilet bowl moves, it needs a new wax ring.

2. Dishwasher Drains.

The dishwasher drain may be clogged and need to be cleaned. Locate the flexible hose that drains the dishwasher into the garbage disposal and then out the sink drain. When this become clogged, water will come out of the overflow vent on top of the sink. YUK!

Some of these things are easily repaired and it is usually best to fix minor problems rather than have them show up on a home inspector's report and potentially delay, or lose you the sale, or affect the final selling price for your property.

Does Your Home Inspector Hold Liability Insurance?

If you are about to hire the services of a home inspector, ask about his or her qualifications and whether he or she holds Liability insurance. By this I mean - does the home inspector carry Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and Omissions Insurance)? Make sure you ask for a copy of his or her liability insurance policy. If you ever need to collect on a legal judgment, the home inspector's insurance policy could be able to pay on your claim. A home inspector without insurance my not be able to pay your claim.

A Home Inspector Report May Show The Need For Chimney Repairs

A home inspector will normally thoroughly check a property for faults or urgently needed repairs.

If the house has a fireplace and chimney then this will probably be mentioned in the home inspection report. The report might highlight the need for repairs if the masonry cap is cracked or broken, or if any bricks or mortar is flaking or missing, or if the chimney is showing any signs of leaning or even collapsing.

Getting A Home Inspector's Report - Part 3

When selling a home it pays to fix minor problems before putting the property on the market. Major problems also need careful consideration and you will need to determine is involved in rectifying the problem(s). What will the costs be, the disruption factor and whether the problem(s) will affect the sale or the sale price.

It is usual for a property to undergo an inspection prior to sale, so be aware that problems exposed in a home inspector's report could potentially delay the sale, lose you the sale, or affect your final selling price or terms of sale.

Here are three items that might appear on a home inspector's report relating to fire safety:

1. Self Closing Door Connecting The Garage.

In many countries the requlations require that a door from the garage to the house needs to have self-closing hinges to preserve the integrity of the firewall. The hinge is designed to ensure that the door will shut and latch automatically. It is true that people often wedge this door open to make it easy to get in and out of the garage, but this can be a fire hazard. Fires often start in a garage, so without a self-closing door, a fire could spread quickly into the house.

2. Breach of Firewall.

The wall between a garage and the rest of the house can be critical in slowing the spread of a fire into the main house. The door from the house to the garage should be a solid core door. This is different from internal doors in the rest of the house which could be hollow doors.

The integrity of the firewall between the garage and house can be destroyed when holes are cut in the firewall to run cables, or when a hole is cut in the solid core door to allow pets to go in and out.

3. Smoke Detectors Can Save Lives.

Have adequate smoke detectors strategically positioned throughout the house. And, check the effectiveness of smoke detectors at least twice a year. The batteries don't last forever and the smoke alarms are useless if they don't work. Most smoke alarms have a testing button so check if they are working or if the battery needs changing.

A Home Inspector Report May Show The Need For Roof Repairs

Leaks may not be visable on the ceilings of rooms, explaining why a home inspector will usually check the attic for evidence of roof leaks. Common areas for leaks are areas around flashings such as skylights, chimneys, and vent pipes. A home inspector may look at these areas to see if they are properly sealed with a black mastic compound. The mastic deteriorates over time and leaks can result.

The home inspector will often look for loose flashing's, particularly at the chimney and roof-to-wall connection.

The home inspector will also probably look to see if the roof sagging between the rafters or trusses...and to see if the roof ridge (peak) is sagging in any way, or whether it is straight and level.

Any signs of deterioration of asphalt shingles would normally be noted on a home inspection report. Deterioration of the shingles could include warping, broken edges, rounded corners or slits becoming wider than would normally be expected. The report might also note if there any visible roof vents.

The home inspector might also report if the wooden roof deck appear rotten or delaminated under the last row of shingles.

What A Home Inspector's Report Might Reveal - Part 2

When selling a home it pays to fix minor problems before putting the property on the market. Major problems also need careful consideration and you will need to determine what is involved in rectifying the problem(s). What will the costs be, the disruption factor and whether the problem(s) will affect the sale or the sale price.

It is usual for a property to undergo an inspection prior to sale, so be aware that problems exposed in a home inspector's report could potentially delay the sale, lose you the sale, or affect your final selling price or terms of sale.

Here are another two items that often appear on a home inspector's report:

1. Water Heater Strapping.

When a home is sold, the water heater must be strapped to prevent it from falling down in an earthquake and starting a fire. You may need to check that the strapping technique used on your water heater complies with the current code in your area.

2. Heater Air Intake.

If your heater is in the garage, it sits on a platform and takes in air from the house through that platform. Check your local regulations, because you'll probably find that this platform must not have any holes in it. Depending on where you live in the world, the rules will probably require that the heater be sealed where it sits on the platform. This is so that no air from the garage can get into the furnace, causing a carbon monoxide hazard.

What A Home Inspector's Report Might Reveal

When selling a home it pays to fix minor problems before putting the property on the market. Major problems also need careful consideration and you will need to determine is involved in rectifying the problem(s). What will the costs be, the disruption factor and whether the problem(s) will affect the sale or the sale price.

It is usual for a property to undergo an inspection prior to sale, so at the very least, be aware of the likely problems that could be exposed in a home inspector's report. They could delay the sale, lose you the sale, or affect your final selling price or terms of sale.

Here are two items that often appear on a home inspector's report:

1. Improper Or Faulty Drainage.

Flooding, dampness, or puddles of water near a property can cause problems, especially if there is wood close to the ground. Having the ground level slope away from the property can sometimes resolve the problem of standing water.
Another good precaution is to have rain gutters that carry the water from the roof away from the house.

2. Roof Repairs.

Although leaks may not be visable on the ceilings of rooms, a home inspector will usually check the attic for evidence of roof leaks. Common areas for leaks are areas around flashings such as skylights, chimneys, and vent pipes. Although these areas have probably been sealed with a black mastic compound, the mastic deteriorates over time and leaks can result.

Home Buying Tip - Building Materials

What type of building materials do you prefer?

The three most popular wall choices are brick, wood siding and stucco. Wood window frames can add character, aluminum window frames are practical and vinyl windows have certainly become popular over the past fifteen years. Around 50% of home buyers seem to prefer brick for exterior walls over wood siding or stucco.

How A Home Inspection Can Benefit An Existing Homeowner

A home inspection can be benefical even if you are already a homeowner. There are a couple of reasons for this:

1. Firstly, if you are thinking of selling your home, it may pay to identify and fix problems before putting your home on the market. It is likely that the homebuyer will arrange his or her own inspection, but there are advantages in being proactive and eliminating potential problems or disagreements before they happen.

2. Secondly, We all get physical checkups, so why not give your home a checkup? Often problems can be identified before they get out of hand or become hugely expensive to repair. Water leaks can cause serious and costly problems, but if they are caught early can be repaired at little cost.

3. Finally, a home inspection report will give you an outline of the routine maintenance that needs to be done on the property. This way you can keep your property in good working order.