It could take a real estate agent months to find the perfect home. You’ve done your due diligence and it ticks all the boxes.
The only thing that is remaining is an inspection. At surface level, the house is perfect but the home inspection could uncover potential deal-breakers.
That is why you shouldn’t be too excited when you’ve found a house before an inspection has been done.
There are some common issues that are likely to crop up with a home inspection and we’re going to highlight some of them.
One thing that should be noted is that a home inspection will not be the ultimate factor when deciding whether or not you’ll be buying the home.
Drainage Towards the House
This is something that won’t be obvious when inspecting the property on your own. The ideal situation is when the lawn is 3% slope away from the home but that might not be the case.
Water shouldn’t gather around the foundation as that could result in serious problems. Lack of proper drainage could lead to water damage.
You don’t want to find out about the issue when you’ve already bought the home. You need to look for the best home inspections in Las Vegas.
Issues with Foundation
Problems with the foundation shouldn’t be taken lightly. The home inspector will mostly focus on cracks.
This is because more than 60% of homes in the United States are built on cotton soil. Cotton soil can result in shifting of up to two inches per season.
Problems with the foundation could be a sign that there are other issues with the home that also need to be carefully checked.
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Problems with the Plumbing System
Plumbing problems are common with home inspections. The person that is selling the home might not even realize that there is an issue with the pipes until an inspection is done.
Plumbing is of course something you need to worry about because unattended leaks could lead to water damage and mold in the home.
Leaks
The inspector will mostly be focused on mold testing. The presence of mold in the house is a sign that there are leaks. The ceilings and the walls will be inspected for any signs of moisture.
Mold
Home inspections will also look for mold. The presence of any kind of mold will always be a health hazard.
Most people will assume that they should only be worried about black mold while in reality, any type of mold can have an adverse effect on health.
Mold isn’t something that can easily be detected and the inspector will use specialized equipment for testing.
Electrical Problems
It is estimated that more than 51,000 home fires are started because of issues with the electrical systems.
That’s why the home inspector will check out the main electrical systems during the inspection process.
HVAC Problems
The HVAC unit is responsible for maintaining the comfort levels in a home. It can be costly to replace one and the home inspector will want to make sure that the unit you’ll be inheriting won’t need to be replaced soon.
The inspector will look at the ductwork, the AC, and furnace to ensure that they’re functioning at optimum capacity.
Roofing Issues
It can take up to $10,000 to replace a new roof. The inspector will focus on the roof as one of the key areas in the whole process.
In case of leaks, your home could be susceptible to all manner problems. The inspection can also help in determining the age of the roof.
For a lot of homeowners, a roof that has a lot of issues could be the reason why they don’t go ahead with the purchase.
Asbestos
Any home that was built before 1981 is likely to have materials that contain asbestos. Asbestos is a perfect insulation material but also comes with serious dangers.
Prolonged exposure could cause lung cancer. The home inspection is conducted to ensure that there is no asbestos in the home.
Building Code Violations
You don’t want to purchase a home only to later find out that there were building codes that were violated and you’re required to take down some part of the house.
The home inspector will ensure to check for code violations.
The home inspection should work in your best interest. Since you’ll be making one of the biggest purchases in your life, it can be beneficial to hire an independent home inspector so that you’re aware of exactly what you’ll be getting.
