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.

Avoid Potential Problems When Buying A Home

Look to see if there is anything unusal about the land that the house is built on. Is the section prone to flooding? Is the driveway shared with another property. Are the boundaries and fences where they should be? This is where professional advice is needed to ensure you don't buy into a problem.

Will A Home Inspection Report Identify Problems?

Yes, probably! When done professionally, a home inspection will be extremely thorough and, will most likely identify some problems (or protential problems). Most problems will be minor in nature and can be repaired after closing. Even newly constructed homes will have problems noted on an inspection report.

However, the home inspector will sometimes identify major, expensive to rectify problems. When this happens the buyer and the seller will often negotiate a solution before closing. If major problems are found, the buyer may insist on paying a lower purchase price, or possibily to change the contract terms. It really depends on the situation, the nature of the problem(s) and the terms and conditions in the contract.

That is why, before signing any contract, it pays to seek proper legal advice. You need to protect yourself in the likelihood of a home inspection report identifying problems.

What Will A Home Inspector Inspect?

When buying a home it always pays to arrange a home inspection. These people are professionals and know what to look for. They have the correct equipment and can identify problems that the average person wouldn't find.

The home inspector's report will review the condition of the home's heating system, plumbing, electrical system and central air conditioning system (temperature permitting). The home inspection report should also review the roof, attic, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, basement, landscaping, and visible structure of the property.

Why Hire A Member Of The Home Inspection Association?

Their are several organizations that provide support for the Home Inspectors. Inspectors who belong to an association and abide by a set of guidelines generally promote professionalism in the industry.

The big question then: Is the home inspector, who is about to inspect the property you are buying, a member of a professional Home Inspection organization?

The point is that most companies affiliated with professional organizations are serious about what they do. These companies are also usually well aware of changes in the building codes and city requirements as well as new developments in the industry.

National Home Inspection organizations include:

• American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
• National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)
• National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE)
• California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA)
• National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI)

Searching For Homes Within Your Price Range

Choosing a price range is a critical factor when searching for a home to buy. Your real estate agent should look for homes in the range you're comfortable with, not merely what you qualify for. If you locate a home that comes in under budget - great!

If the asking price is slightly over budget, you might be able to negotiate the price down. When it's time to make the offer to buy a house, expect your real estate agent to provide a list of comparable sales in the area. This should help you in deciding the amount to offer.

The Value Of A Home Inspection In Perspective

Some of us spend hours wandering malls looking for fashion items, or think nothing of spending 40 or 50 minutes in the supermarket to buy $200 worth of groceries.

Yet, for most of us, the purchase of a home is one of the largest transactions we will ever make. That is why the purchase of a home needs to be taken seriously and be thoroughly researched.

If you are borrowing money to buy a home - you need to get the best mortgage deal to suit your needs. If you are signing a contract to purchase the home - you need to get good legal advice. If you are using the services of a real estate agent - you need to select a good one to represent you.
The same goes for arranging a home inspection. If you are going to take the purchase of a home seriously - then arranging a home inspection is usually a worthwhile investment.

A trained home inspector is equipped to evaluate the home in detail and give you a report that will allow you to make a good decision about purchasing the home. An home inspection report will describe the property in detail and (when done thorougly), will identify potential problems.

Home Buying Tip - Open Homes

Visit open houses and ask lots of questions. Doing this will give you a good feel for how properties compare on price, features, quality etc. When I bought my last home I visited over 60 open houses before I put in an offer.

Home Buying Mortgage Tip

If you need to take out a mortgage to by the property, then get pre-qualified for a loan before you start looking for a property to buy.

A mortgage lender will want the answers to questions like:

• Do you have a steady reliable source of income (usually a job)?
• Have I been employed on a regular basis for the last 2-3 years?
• Do you have a good credit history of paying your bills?
• Do you have any outstanding long-term debts, such as car payments?
• Do you have money saved for a down payment?
• Do you have the ability to pay a mortgage every month, plus additional costs?

Remember too, when interest rates are low, you may be best to opt for a fixed rate mortgage where the interest rate is established at its origination and continues unchanged through the life of the loan.

Home Buying Tip

Decide what features you want in a home before you start looking. Decide what features are high priority and what features you might be prepared to compromise on.

Always look for a home which comes closest to what you want. Don’t have such a detailed list of requirements that you literally shut out any chance of finding a suitable home.