subject: California Real Estate Home Inspections [print this page] California Real Estate Home Inspections California Real Estate Home Inspections
Homebuyers are as individual as the homes they plan to buy, one thing is they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will buy is in good condition both on the surface and below. Will the roof end up leaking? and what about the plumbing. While home inspectors check for as many as 48 different issues, we have focused on the top 9 problems that account for 72% of all home inspection failures.
We recommend that you do a pre-inspection before the inspector actually shows up at the door. By doing your own inspection it gives you time to find and repair or address the issues before the inspector finds them and the buyer either backs out or makes a counter offer for a lower price or a request for repairs to be done.
#1. Defective Plumbing.
Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking and clogging. A visual inspection will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathrooms and then flushing the toilets.
If you see rust color or dirty water this is a good indicator that the pipes are worn and rusting out.
#2. Electrical & Wiring Inadequate
Your home should have a minimum of 100 amp service and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper, however, some homes have aluminum wiring, which are less reliable.
Home inspectors will test all electrical outlets and periodically check to see if the breakers can handle a load.
#3. Damp or wet Floors / Walls
An inspector usually carries a moisture meter or tester, mainly used for testing the moisture content of drywall and wood. If the moisture content is high then their is a leak and mold may start to form.
#4. Poor Heating andCooling Systems
Insufficient insulation and an inadequate or poorly functioning air conditioning orheating system caneasily be detected. A good inspector willbe able to quickly identify any problemsor issues with the systems.
#5. Roof Problems
Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles or mechanical damage from a wind storm. When gutter leak and downspout allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, this problem becomes a major interior one.
#6. Damp Attic Spaces.
Aside from floors and walls, dampness in the attic can lead to premature detrition oftheceiling inside the home as well as morewear on the roof.
#7. Rotting Wood
This can occur in many places including:doors, window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences. The inspector will press on the wood to test for rot and sometimes use the moisture meter to see if there is still a level of measure.
#8. Masonry Work
Rebricking, cracks in the slab, block walls falling downcan all bevery costly. Inspectors will look for trees too close toa house or if there are cracks the inspector will try to find the reason. Sometimepoor compacted dirt or shift earth causes some of the problems.
#9. Structural Problems
Floors that are uneven, wallsway out of square andpoorly poured slabs and footing are usually the biggest culprits when it comes to structuralissues.
In summary,a home inspector isa hired detective to find the issues that will cost the buyer money in the future or issues that need to be corrected before the completion of the sale.The home inspector will alwaysfind something to put in the report, however,many homeownershave the ability totake a proactive approach andcorrect issues before they become a negotiatingissue later.
