You could go out today and purchase a home, but, in all likelihood, it wouldn’t be your dream home. That’s why many people spend months and years picking the perfect home. While all that effort may come to fruition and you found your dream home, there could be a major problem that you’re unaware of, which is where a home inspection comes in.
A home inspection is a visual examination of a home to assess its quality and ensure a home isn’t sold to someone who’s unaware of major or minor issues. A home buyer may have a better idea of what the value of a home is and how much they’re willing to pay after a home inspection is done. Essentially, having a home inspector can help ensure you aren’t buying a fixer-upper.
Home inspectors are, typically, highly qualified to give an objective evaluation of the major mechanical and structural systems of a home. But, what exactly do home inspectors look for? Here’s what you should know:
What does a home inspector examine?
Home inspectors will evaluate the quality of the outside and inside of a home. The following are some examples of what a home inspector looks for:
- Foundation, outer walls and windows: A home that has cracks in the foundation, missing bricks, exposed siding or broken windows could show signs that there are major issues with a home. There could even be signs that the foundation around the home floods. Broken pipes, gutters or faucets could also cause water damage or flood the basement.
- Roof and attic: Most home inspectors won’t go on the roof, however, they may still find issues from a ground-view examination. The roof may be covered in moss or ivy. There could be missing shingles and a broken chimney that’s caused water exposure or a home for birds and animals. An inside examination of the attic may reveal how a damaged roof exposed the home to the elements over the years.
Once you understand the true value of a home, you may need to know your legal options when asking the home seller for a better deal, like making repairs to the home.
