Home Inspection Articles | House Inspection News

You will know if you are talking with a skillful and credible home inspector if he is able to describe to you all the defects he is going to check in the home you are interested in. This is why you also need to know the major common defects in a home to enable you to ask the right questions.

Nowadays, most home inspectors use home inspection software, and most probably all home defects are covered by the software. But equipping yourself with knowledge about home defects will help you in your decision-making when choosing the right home inspector.

The five most common major home defects are the following:

1. Roof Leaks

These leaks are most common in older houses, but they can also be found in newer homes due to the use of inferior roofing materials or to improper roofing installation. Some of these problems can be repaired; some need replacement. Ask your home inspector the methods he uses in checking roof leaks if it is not raining on home inspection day.

2. Water Seepage

This problem is caused by defective underground structures such as drainage systems, unexpected developments in groundwater conditions or faulty exterior ground grading.
Know the precise cause of water seepage because groundwater drains are costly to design and install.

3. Electrical Hazards

These problems include outlets without grounding, defective electrical wiring in some sections of the house and absence of ground fault circuit interrupters. Most often, the faulty electrical installations or wiring were additions done by inexperienced homeowners or unqualified electricians.

4. Water Heater Problems

Inspection services have found that most water heaters are in violation of plumbing regulations. Some of these violations are use of inferior gas piping, incorrect installation of overflow piping and weak pipe strapping.

5. Gas Heater Problems

Most often, gas companies are delayed in implementing regular inspection of their installations. Some of the most common problems found during home inspection are non-compliance with fire safety regulations, damage to the firebox and carbon monoxide leaks.

Home Inspection Checklist

Oftentimes, major home defects are the focus of home inspectors and homebuyers, especially in cases where the home inspection report is needed immediately. Homebuyers will soon regret that there are other defects that should have been checked.

Nowadays, most home inspectors use laptops with home inspection software and other modern inspection tools to perform their work. Nevertheless, it is still to your advantage if you are knowledgeable about most, if not all, possible home defects.

Some other defects that could be missed during home inspection are the following:

1. Decaying Wood
   This condition is usually found in wooden parts which are exposed to the elements and in places where the wood is constantly wet. These are wood near plumbing fixtures, showers, tubs, roof eaves, decks and outdoor living spaces.

   According to wood experts, the conditions that causes wood decay and rot are moisture, oxygen, good temperature and wood nutrients.

2. Fireplace and chimney problems
   The causes of these problems include failure to periodically clean the chimney, absence of spark arrestors, use of inferior wood-burning stoves, failure to put adequate clearance or barrier between hot metals and combustible materials and defective installation of other fireplace fixtures.
3. Garage firewall violations
   The building code requires a fire-resistant firewall to separate the garage attached to a house. This requirement has been in place since 1927.
4. Building extension and remodeling violations
   Many home inspectors have discovered a high number of remodeling and extension projects done without building permits. Most likely, these projects took shortcuts and used substandard materials.
5. Water leaks
   These are indicated by the presence of stains on ceilings, basement floors, attics and near baseboards.
6. Termites
   A common sign of termite infestation is the presence of dark blisters in wood flooring. You can also tap wood in various parts. If the tapped wood sounds hollow, termites could already have eaten a big portion of the insides of the wood.

Home Inspection Tips

A house is one of the major investments in a person’s life. That is why a home inspection contingency is important to protect homebuyers from purchasing houses, especially if they are foreclosed homes, which may have hidden structural problems and material defects.

A home inspection contingency is a stipulation in the purchase contract that allows homebuyers to conduct an inspection of the house and property where it is located before closing. This will give the homebuyer an option to withdraw from buying the house if a home inspection report showed that it has major structural and material problems.

An inspection contingency could also allow the homebuyer to renegotiate his price offer to reflect the cost of repairs.

Finding a Home Inspector

A homebuyer can ask a real estate agent for names of inspectors or home inspection companies in the area. Or he can try to find one on the Internet or telephone directory. It is advisable that the homebuyer take the time to learn some pertinent information about the inspector.

Here are some things that a homebuyer should find out before hiring an inspector:

• License – most states require that all home inspectors should be licensed. Wisconsin requires that all home inspectors should attend continuing education classes of not less than 20 hours annually.
• Organizational affiliation – Most efficient home inspectors are affiliated with national organizations such as the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). A membership with an organization means that the inspector follows guidelines and code of ethics.
• Number of years in the home inspection service – ask for at least three referrals from previous clients. This way the homebuyer will know the quality of work rendered by the inspector.

Home Inspectors

An increasing number of homebuyers are opting not to include home inspection contingency in their contract to buy a property. They choose to waive their right for a home inspection contingency to allow them to have the upper hand in multiple offer situations. Meanwhile, it would be favorable on sellers, especially of foreclosed homes, that [...]

Home Inspection

Most home inspection reports showed that majority of structural problems and material defects, especially in foreclosed homes, are quite routine in nature. That is why homebuyers, especially first timers, should hire a home inspector who has several number of years in the home inspection business. He should also try to learn by asking around if [...]

Home Inspection

You have bought a foreclosed home for investment and plan to sell it for a profit. And since it is your first venture into the real estate business, you want to speed up the sale of the property. One thing that will ensure a speedy sale is to avail of home inspection services. You can [...]

Home Inspection

Smart buyers who are planning to purchase foreclosed homes know that conducting a home inspection will help them make an informed decision. The following are some factors that they should know before hiring a home inspection company. Make sure that you and an agent have signed a contract with stipulation that he/she represents you and [...]

Home Inspection by State

With the abundance of foreclosed homes in the market, home buyers can afford to be choosy. Buyers will rather choose a pre-inspected home than the one without an inspection. As most experts recommend that home buyers conduct an inspection first before closing for a sale, it is to your advantage if you hire a professional [...]

Home Inspectors

Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions that a person can make. Hence, it is but necessary that the buyer know all pertinent information regarding the property he is about to buy. The seller must disclose all relevant matters regarding the house. As for the buyer, it is important that he initiates [...]

Home Inspectors

With the abundance of foreclosed homes on the market, sometimes it can be daunting and exhilarating for a homebuyer to find one that he will like and buy. After buying the property, he discovered that the house has structural and plumbing problems that need major repairs. He feels cheated then, realizing that the house he [...]

Home Inspection Benefits