What to Inspect When Buying a House
Buying a house is one of the most significant financial decisions. To get it right, you need to prepare adequately. Having an important home inspection checklist is beneficial. You are responsible for any defects in the property’s condition that may not have been apparent on sale. When inspecting a property, there are several critical areas of concern to which all home buyers should pay attention. Below are things to include in an important home inspection checklist during a home purchase.
Roof
Inspecting a roofing system is part of an important home inspection checklist when buying a home. The roofing system is the most significant investment in your home. It represents the biggest benefit of purchasing. You must get a complete, professional inspection to ensure that every square inch of your roof system at least meets safety codes.
Your roof system protects you from the environment, such as rain. The roofing system is also a potential liability for your home. Roofing company systems go through a lot of wear and tear over their lifetime. If you spend any money to replace or repair it, you want to know about it before making that spending decision.
Gutters
The gutters are one of the many things to add to an important home inspection checklist. Gutters must extend far away from your home so water doesn’t pool under them. A gutter company should install them close enough so that water does not blow onto your roof or flood anything else around it. This is a tricky balance, which means you need to pay close attention while performing the inspection.
Check all gutters for proper connections that are securely fastened in place. Inspection of the guttering is vital if the gutter system of the property you intend to buy is new. You also need to assess its condition if it has been re-installed after a long period of disuse and neglect. If you see anything wrong, you should report it immediately to the property owner as soon as possible.
Do not forget to look for leaks or water pooling that indicate a problem. Ensure the gutters are clear of clogs. Also, look for any cracks or holes you may need to repair. Check underneath the rain spouts. Make sure they are not damaged. They should also be attached in the correct place.
Pipes
When purchasing a house, one should inspect the plumbing system before signing any legal documents that would be binding. Adding such an essential preliminary step to an important home inspection checklist will allow you to assess the condition and age of your future residence’s plumbing system. You can then use this information in negotiations with sellers to include or exclude specific terms in their agreement.
One should inspect their house’s plumbing system because, at some point, aging plumbing systems can become dangerous. Also, it would help inspect the pipes the water heater uses. With older models, those pipes may corrode and leak. Another part of the plumbing system to check is its main drains. They may not be in good condition.
Some drains can become clogged, resulting in slow drainage of waste materials from sinks and bathtubs. When inspecting the plumbing system, one should also look for other possible problems before bringing them to the seller’s attention. These include pest infestation and waste materials accumulating in pipes.
Driveway
One of the most important ways to determine the driveway’s problems is to inspect the surface physically. A driveway inspection in an important home inspection checklist aims to ensure that there are no issues with the asphalt surface that may reveal themselves during use.
It also helps you to examine drainage issues that may have developed. The surfaces should not have large cracks, especially if they run across walkways or areas of high traffic. These issues may require additional maintenance. In some cases, they may require a complete resurfacing of the driveway, depending upon the severity of the problem. Signs of wear and tear are often present when homeowners do not maintain and resurface regularly.
Some areas will show accelerated wear during use. You should check this during an inspection. These areas may include the corners of driveways and intersections, dips, and chips on the surface that may wear away due to foot traffic. There may be puddles in low-lying areas or other sites not along water drainage lines. These could also indicate issues with an asphalt paving surface that you may need to address.
Garage Door
When considering purchasing a home to live in, one of the most important things you need to do is inspect the garage door. One thing to remember is that some garage door issues are easy to see. Others are more difficult. As a result, it is best to include the garage door in your important home inspection checklist. You can start an overhead garage door inspection by checking the frame for rust and signs of warping.
If it is rusty, it could signify that it will not hold up against the elements. You should also assess the opener. The garage door must open and close reliably. Beyond that, you should check the exterior and interior of the garage door. You want to look at the track and its surface. Ensure it is secure and in good shape before buying the home. You will also want to check for signs of damage, including cracks or dents.
Finally, there are a few other things you can look for on the garage door. These include whether or not it has been strung with metal cables and ease of access to the inside. You may also need to determine whether the door has a light installed inside and how easy access to an internal mechanism is available if necessary. If your garage door is in good shape, it can also make it easy for you to store your valuables. A garage door can be the best alternative for you if you do not have a place to store your valuable items.
AC and Heating Units
One integral part of an important home inspection checklist is inspecting your HVAC system. The last thing anyone wants is to purchase a home and find out that they will have to shell out thousands of dollars on an HVAC repair. Make sure it is running before you try and inspect it. It would help to be sure that any breaks or leaks in the pipes are at least noticeable. Make sure there is enough volume of air coming out of the vents.
Overloading it will cause problems like overheating the ducts and actual fire. Ensure that the air ducts are clean. Dust and hair can clog them. As a result, this may restrict airflow into the home. This means you are wasting money by buying a house with a poorly functioning system.
Black dust is a sign of bad air quality in your heating and cooling system. It is not much different than if there is a leak in an area and you are trying to stop it with a paper towel. You will get something worse than simply stopping the leak with duct tape. In addition, you may incur a significant amount of money hiring someone to fix it.
Septic Tank
The septic tank is another element you should not ignore in your important home inspection checklist. Septic system problems can be a big headache and even a safety hazard. There are several vital things that you should check during a septic system inspection. The first thing to look out for during the evaluation is that the ground around the septic tank should be level with the top of the tank.
If there is no level change from the soil surrounding your tank, it could indicate a failed or collapsed drain field. Because of the slope to the drain field, you may notice a level change only after water enters the tan. The most important part of inspecting a septic system is verifying that the pump is working. If the pump is not working, it will not be able to remove waste from the tank.
The inspection should also cover issues like leaks with the drain field and fittings. After every septic system inspection, you should receive a report from the septic company. The report includes information about the assessment and any problem areas in the home’s septic tank you intend to buy.
Door Locks
Knowing what you can expect when buying a house is essential to ensure that it is suitable for you and your family. Locking systems are one of the many safety features to add to your important home inspection checklist when buying a new home. A locksmith or an expert can inspect the property’s locks.
The first step is to examine the lock mechanism. You should be able to turn it with a key to get the tumblers to move in the right direction. Open and close the door and make sure it will hold together as you move it from side to side. If you notice that one of the hinges is loose, ask the home seller to replace it.
Do not forget to inspect all of the keyholes and locks on the outside of the door. Look for any odd pieces inside. They could spell doom for your entry should they fall out during a real emergency. It is also important to note that locks should not be too far from where someone could reach them for you or your little ones.
Pests
In light of recent pest attacks close to home, putting more effort into implementing an important home inspection checklist is on the rise. This is due to safety concerns for both the household and guests. A typical inspection will involve looking over rooms throughout the house through direct observation and pulling back carpets.
A checklist will help bring pests to the front of the assessment. For example, a pest company should point this out quickly to the homeowner if there are cockroaches. Inspectors help you keep an eye out for any potential pests or other issues that could arise. You may have trouble identifying potential problems that could arise.
That said, properly using a checklist or hiring a pest control company can make the inspection more efficient. The home inspection checklist should also look for hidden dark crevices or areas in closets and behind doors. These places could act as hiding spots for cockroaches and other pests. They are often dark enough that you would not think about looking in them if there was no problem with them.
Fencing
Before buying a home, people usually undertake several inspections. They range from taking building measurements to checking the gas supply. Some of these inspections are inherently dangerous. For instance, making sure there is no asbestos inside the dwelling. One inspection that people often overlook before purchase is the fencing inspection.
A fencing inspection ensures that all the fencing on the premises is up to standard. It helps ensure that the fence will stay in good condition. As a result, it can protect you and your family for many years. Including backyard fences in an important home inspection checklist offers all the appropriate security measures. A fence is an integral part of any property. It acts as a visual barrier, keeping people out and animals in.
In addition to these physical elements, fences also serve a definite psychological purpose. They make properties feel more secure. Before you buy a new home, make sure to inspect the fencing and gates. Any weather damage or rot will impact resale value. Things like termites or carpenter ants also have negative consequences if you do not check them. Ensure the fencing comprises sturdy materials before making a home purchase.
Many people pay a lot of money for houses without inspecting them. A home inspection is an inexpensive way to determine if there are potential problems that you do not want to deal with down the road. It can be precious in saving money. An important home inspection checklist helps make a wise decision when buying a home.
