Articles, Home Inspection
Article 1
While a home inspector looks for significant issues and
deficiencies, another part of the job consists of providing basic
factual information to the client. Often, this factual information,
when put in perspective, provides valuable insight into the condition
of the home. A home inspector provides facts to the client. Sometimes
these facts and descriptions disclose obvious deficiencies at the
lot or the home, such as leaking pipes. Other times the facts might
be as basic as describing the materials used in the construction
of the home: the driveway is gravel; the sidewalk is concrete; the
furnace is new, propane and 80% efficient; the home has a septic
tank; the water comes from a well; the shingles are architectural
grade composition material and so forth. On other occasions, the
inspector might provide interpretations of the facts, such as explaining
why a certain deficiency is a significant problem and not merely
a trivial annoyance.
It is not unusual to find that providing the facts will
disclose a deficiency, even if other obvious problems are not readily
apparent. As an example, old knob and tube wiring (pre-1950’s) is
a safety concern that makes a home harder or more costly to insure.
Old galvanized steel pipes, used as supply pipes or for drain systems,
are of such an age that they are currently past their design lives.
Whether these old steel pipes are rusted, leaking or in good condition
at the time of the inspection, anyone buying a home with pipes of
this vintage should be told that the plumbing will need an upgrade
in the not too distant future.
Any home inspector, who does not provide essential information
on the systems, components and materials found at the home, is not
a thorough professional and is not doing a quality job that serves
the best interests of his or her clients.
Author:
Eric Badgely
Article 2
Home inspection plays a very important role in the real estate process.
When you are buying or selling a home, you rely on a home inspector
to provide an accurate and reliable inspection of a property. A
home inspector will tell you about the condition of the home and
help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. It is the
perfect way to get an in-depth and impartial opinion of your next
home before you buy it.
What to Expect
Typically, you will hire a home inspector either immediately
before an offer is made on a home or as a contingency to a sale.
Additionally, home inspections are ideal if you want to evaluate
your home's condition or diagnose potential problems before they
become serious issues.
Home inspectors perform the following duties:
- Evaluate the physical condition of a property, including the
structure, construction and mechanical systems.
- Identify the items that should be repaired or replaced.
- Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such
as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment,
structure, and finishes.
Although inspections are primarily visual, inspectors may use
tape measures, survey instruments, metering devices, and other equipment,
such as concrete strength measurers, to aid in their inspection.
They keep a log of their work, take photographs, and file a formal
report.
The inspection usually takes two or three hours (depending on
the age and size of the home). You should be present so you can
ask questions and learn about areas that need additional work. All
of the findings will be presented in a formal report that details
the condition of the home.
A Close Look
The main purpose of the home inspector is to provide an objective
viewpoint on the condition of a specific home at the time of
inspection. The
inspector does not evaluate the cost or value of the property, but
provides a close examination of the following:
- Structural Components: Foundations, floors and walls.
- Exterior Components: Siding paint, windows, decks, garage doors,
etc.
- Roofing: Coverings, flashings, chimneys, etc.
- Plumbing: Piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage
systems, etc.
- Electrical: Wiring, main service panels, conductors, switches,
receptacles, etc.
- Heating: Equipment, safety controls, distribution systems, chimneys,
etc.
- Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps: Cooling and air-handling equipment,
controls and ducting, etc.
- Interior: Partitions, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows,
etc.
- Insulation and Ventilation: Attics, walls, floors, foundations,
kitchen and bathrooms, etc.
They will additionally perform the following services (sometimes
for an extra fee): mold sampling, radon testing, asbestos evaluation,
pests/wood destroying organisms, carbon monoxide testing, lead testing,
and more. These services are not always available.
Make sure to protect your investment. Get a home inspection before
you buy your next home!
Heather Brunson is a lead marketing writer for
Allied Schools. She
has a B.A. in Journalism with an emphasis on public relations. She
has additional experience in technical writing.
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