Homebuyers Want to
Know Your Home
Inside And Out Here are some important Things You Need to Know
to Pass Your Home Inspection
❶ Defective Plumbing.
Defective plumbing can manifest itself in
two different ways: leaking, and clogging.
A visual inspection can detect leaking, and
an inspector will gauge water pressure by
turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom
and then flushing the toilet.
If you hear the sound of running water, it
indicates that the pipes are undersized. If
the water appears dirty when first turned on
at the faucet, this is a good indication that
the pipes are rusting, which can result in
severe water quality problems.
❷ Damp orWet Basement.
An inspector will check your walls for a
powdery white mineral deposit a few inches
off the floor, and will look to see if you feel
secure enough to store things right on your
basement floor. A mildew odor is almost
impossible to eliminate, and an inspector
will certainly be conscious of it.
It could cost you $200-$1,000 to seal a
crack in or around your basement foundation
depending on severity and location. Adding
a sump pump and pit could run you around
$750 - $1,000, and complete waterproofing
(of an average 3 bedroom home) could
amount to $5,000-$15,000. You will have to
weigh these figures into the calculation of
what price you want to net on your home.
❸ Inadequate Wiring &Electrical.
Your home should have a minimum of 100
amps service, and this should be clearly
marked. Wire should be copper or aluminum.
Home inspectors will look at octopus plugs as
indicative of inadequate circuits and a
potential fire hazard.
❹ Poor Heating & CoolingSystems.
Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a
poorly functioning heating system, are the
most common causes of poor heating. While
an adequately clean furnace, without rust on
the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it,
an inspector will be asking and checking to
see if your furnace is over its typical life span
of 15-25 yrs. For a forced air gas system, a
heat exchanger will come under particular
scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit
deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These
heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged -
they cannot be repaired.
❺ Roofing Problems.
Water leakage through the roof can occur for a
variety of reasons such as physical deterioration
of the asphalt shingles (e.g. curling or
splitting), or mechanical damage from a wind
storm. When gutters leak and downspouts
allow water to run down and through the exterior
walls, this external problem becomes a
major internal one.
"According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come
under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. Here are 11
you should know about if you're planning to put your home up for sale."
While homebuyers are as
individual as the homes
they plan on purchasing,
one thing they share is a desire to
ensure that the home they will
call their own is as good beneath
the surface as it appears to be.
Will the roof end up leaking? Is
the wiring safe? What about the
plumbing?
These, and others, are the questions
that the buyers looking at
your home will seek professional
help to answer.
According to industry experts,
there are at least 33 physical
problems that will come under
scrutiny during a home inspection.
We've identified the 11 most
common of these and, if not identified
and dealt with, any of these
11 items could cost you dearly in
terms of repair.
In most cases, you can make a
reasonable pre-inspection yourself
if you know what you're
looking for. And knowing what
you're looking for can help you
prevent little problems from
growing into costly and unmanageable
ones.
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