Important Home Inspections Buyers Should Know

Although a standard home inspection includes a detailed report about the property, it doesn’t give you all the information you need. It may be necessary to conduct additional inspections, based on the year of construction, geography, and condition of the home you’re considering.

During a home inspection, inspectors are required to examine each accessible part of the property. The method leaves out any things that aren’t easily visible, like types of pest infestations and how to prevent them, and other places that are hard to reach in your interior or exterior part of the house.

The general inspection covers structural components in the house like flooring, walls, roof or rafters, and stairs. Exterior construction is also checked where the outside porch, deck, garage, or any other factors are checked. The functioning of the heating and air conditioning system along with major kitchen appliances is checked. The inspection of doors and windows to evaluate their strength in extreme weather conditions.

After the general inspection, your inspector may suggest you a further detailed inspection to know more about the possible damages or the level of damages. These inspections may includes

Chimney inspection

The purpose of a chimney inspection is to determine if the chimney and fireplace are ventilating correctly. A crack or deterioration in the mortar, or a heavy buildup of burning wood, can cause a fire. This eliminates chimney fires and smoke or odors from permeating the home when you light the fireplace during a chilly evening.

These things that are not easily visible can be pointed out by having a specialized chimney inspection.

Roof Inspection

A roof is the foremost important factor in the security of your house. The strength of the roof can protect against leaks and damages caused by extreme weather conditions.

In addition to saving homeowners thousands of dollars each year, roof maintenance can extend the longevity of a roof. An expert roofing contractor can not only examine a roof and ceilings for signs of leaks or damage but can also suggest the best materials to use for the same. In addition, mold growth can be flagged, as rotting wood might be hiding beneath, and you can also conduct an infrared scan. These minute but important details can change the way we look at roof inspection.

Pest, termite, or rodent

An inspector performs a pest inspection to check your home’s exterior and interior by using chemical and lab testing and looks for any signs of contamination, damaged areas, or areas that may have attracted pests.

A moisture meter is used to determine moisture levels and look for other signs such as little tunnels that underground termites, a nest of wings, damaged wood like crushed dirt, hollowness when tapped, damp wood, brittle, and cracked paint, chewed wiring, or feces from mice. These details are hard to find and understand by general inspectors and thus they ask for special inspectors who can identify the underlying cause.

Electrical inspection

The electrical system in your home is crucial to ensuring the safety of your family. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, electrical distribution equipment or lighting equipment in the home is responsible for most home fires after the gas leaks. A thorough electrical inspection would include testing for ungrounded outlets, open wires, meshed wires, poorly modified electrical panels, and any other safety concerns. It is always wise to hire a specialized electrician even if your regular home inspectors does not recommend checking electrical systems in-depth. It is a section of your home which will be accessed by everyone, so make sure you secure any possible risks.

Conclusion

It’s never a bad idea to get your inspections in order even though they can add to the stress of buying a home. In doubt, talk to your real estate agent or your general home inspector to find out if they recommend any additional inspections and which professionals in the local area they trust. If your doubts are not cleared with a home inspector, you can go for a specialist inspection.