What is Included in a Home Inspection?
Posted by Eric Skates on
What is Included in a Home Inspection?
When it comes time to buy a home, most people don't want to waste valuable money on a home inspection. Even those that understand that they will get a lot of valuable information from it, may still bulk at the price. Many only go through a home inspection if it is required by their mortgage lender.
Home inspections are worth every penny that you spend. Not only will you learn a lot about your home, you might find some problem that will cost a lot of money to fix. You may end up walking away from a home with a bad foundation and be very glad that you went through this extra step.
In order to make a home inspection seem worth it, it is important to know everything that will be examined during this process. So, what is included in a home inspection?
- Foundation. A good home needs to be built on a sturdy foundation. For this reason, you need to ensure that the foundation is good. Home inspectors look for any signs of problems such as cracks and settling.
- Outside walls. While missing siding and cracks may not seem like a big problem, if the bottom of your home is against the soil, you may have to worry about insects getting into your home.
- Grading. Though you may not think about it, grading is extremely important. You want to make sure that water runs away from your home and not into it (which can cause flooding).
- Roof. It is important that you have a good roof covering your home. The inspectors not only look for any signs of damage to your roof, they will also look to make sure that it was installed correctly. If not, you may have a lot of other problems, giving you good reason to walk away from the house. The inspector will also examine the gutters.
- Running water. Not only will the home inspector run all of the sinks and showers, he or she will also look for leaks and test your water pressure. If possible, he or she will examine the pipes. If needed, he or she may talk to you about replacement and whether or not that is something that may need to be done sooner or later.
- Water heater. Your water heater is also going to be examined. The inspector will make sure that it is working properly, while also letting you know the age and how much longer it should last.
- Heating and air conditioning system. The inspection covers your heating and cooling system. They check your heat supply, whether it is electric or you have a furnace. They will also make sure that your air conditioning unit is functioning properly. The duct work is also examined to ensure that there is enough ventilation so it is safe to live in.
- Electrical system. A good electrical system is essential for your safety. By looking at the wiring and testing the outlets, he or she will be able to see if your home was wired correctly. They also look at the ground fault circuit interrupters, which keep you from getting shocked. Your inspector will also examine your electric panel, making sure that you won't have to worry about an electrical fire.
Though you may not want to spend the extra money, a home inspection is essential. It allows you to know that you are buying a safe home that is free from any major problems (that will cost you money either now or down the line). Though it is hard to make a list of everything that is checked, this list shows you how much the inspector actually does!