Commonly Overlooked Home Inspection Details

Home inspection professionals are trained to spot problems and evaluate a home’s overall condition. Home inspectors will do their best to be ethical and thorough, however, they are also still human, and as a result, sometimes details escape their attention.

If you’re making a major investment in a home, there’s no reason you have to leave 100% of the inspection up to someone else. There are definitely areas you can review for yourself (or hire an outside party to review).

Before you sign off on a house, don’t neglect to review these commonly overlooked areas:

• Roof: Yes, inspectors will consider the roof condition, but they probably won’t be on top of the roof when they do it. This is one area where checking it out yourself or hiring a roofing contractor to take a look can be a major benefit during negotiations.
• Fences: You might not think there’s much to inspect here, but replacing a fence is expensive. What looks sturdy on a sunny day can turn into a giant repair after the first storm of the season. This is especially true of wooden fences.
• Drains: Fill up tubs and sinks and see how long it takes them to drain. If they’re slow, you’ll want to know why. It could be something as simple as a clog, but better safe that sorry.
• Fireplaces: Home inspectors will often give these the once-over, but it is unlikely for them to light a fire. If you can, make sure these operate as expected. Also find out when the chimney was last cleaned, and how often it was maintained. If the owner had burnt wood in the fireplace or wood-burning stove, no matter what kind of wood, the chimney should be cleaned regularly to prevent a chimney fire. Click here for a video tutorial that shows you the signs of when your chimney is ready to be cleaned, as well as gives instructions on how you can easily sweep your chimney.
• Heating/Cooling: The time of year might impact how thorough an inspector is with the heating and cooling system. Even if it is a hot summer day, don’t forget run the heater, and vice versa, even if it is a snowy winter evening, run the A/C. Heating and Cooling units are big ticket items, you will want to be certain it performs as expected.
• Electrical Panel & Outlets: Your inspectors will review the homes electrical, but once again, things may be missed. To be thorough, simply check each rooms outlets by plugging in a phone charger. Along with this, open up the electrical panel. Is it neat and organized, or is a tangled mess with disconnected wires?

Pricing is directly tied to a home’s condition, so don’t overlook the opportunity to protect yourself from repair bills. Along with this, problems found in the inspection process can present you with leverage in negotiations.

Ready to hunt for a home in great shape? Let me help you with your search. There are all kinds of properties available right now, let’s connect today: 928.830.6976!