Important Points About Home Inspections

After Finding Your Home

The Home Inspection

It’s easy to make sure that the home you’ve chosen is a smart buy. By having a home inspection, the home’s vital systems are checked. A home inspection allows you to purchase your home with confidence. We will help you schedule an inspection after you have chosen the home you like. Smart Move Realty “The Beauchamp Team” recommends the following minimum standards when choosing an inspector:

1. Membership in ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and adherence to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

2. Written report at the time of inspection.

Your inspection report should include the following:

¨ Foundations, basements, and structures.

¨ Basement floor and walls, proper drainage and ventilation, evidence of water seepage.

¨ Exterior siding, windows, and doors.

¨ Exterior walls, windows, and doors; porches, decks, and balconies; garage.

¨ Roof.

¨ Roof type and material, and condition of gutters and downspouts.

¨ Interior plumbing system.

¨ Hot-and-cold water system, the waste system and sewage disposal, water pressure and flow, and hot-water equipment.

¨ Electrical system.

¨ Type of service, the number of circuits, type of protection, outlet grounding, and the load balance.

¨ Central heating system.

¨ Energy source, type of cooling equipment, capacity, and distribution.

¨ Interior walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors.

¨ Stairways, cabinets, and countertops.

¨ Attic.

¨ Structural, insulation, and ventilation information.

¨ Fireplace.

¨ Notes about the chimney, damper, and masonry.

¨ Garage.

¨ Doors, walls, floor, opener.

¨ Appliances.

¨ Includes a wide range of built-in and other home appliances, smoke detectors, and television/cable hookups.

¨ Lot and landscaping.

¨ Ground slope away from foundation, condition of walks, steps, and driveway.

Home Inspections and Why You Should Obtain One

Home inspections are a routine part of nearly every residential purchase, whether a resale or, yes, even a new-construction home. Why, you might ask? Here are a few areas home inspectors look at:

Structural:

Many home-inspection organizations, such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors), have set standards on certain areas of the home that the home inspector looks at to determine the integrity of the essential internal and external structural components. Home inspectors are not structural engineers, but they can identify visual defects in areas requiring immediate repairs and will recommend a structural engineer should they feel it is warranted.

Electrical:

Do all the outlets work? Are the GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupters) operational? Is there any reverse polarity? Is there evidence of double lugging of breakers at the service panel? Any wiring not properly encased? Landscape watering or lighting systems improperly installed?

Plumbing:

Are there any leaks or annoying drips? Are there any pipes that are vibrating because they are not properly secured? Reverse hot and cold taps in bathrooms or kitchen? Are there any toilets not secured to the floor? What about cracks in the shower-tub surrounds? Is the water pressure sufficient? Are there any slow-draining sinks or tubs?

Built-In Appliances:

All appliances are tested, including running a dishwasher cycle, testing microwaves, and checking oven temperatures and burners.

Safety Hazards:

Some of these items cross over electrical and plumbing and include making certain hot-water tanks are secured; verifying there is proper ventilation of all systems supplied by natural gas; and testing temperature variations on the furnace, weather conditions permitting.

Miscellaneous:

Other items may or may not be included, but should be reviewed by a qualified professional, such as wells, septic systems, roofs, sufficient sealing of flashings, noting cracked tiles, exposed felt underlayment, adequate attic insulation and ventilation, drainage problems, wood decks, wood-infestation evidence (dry rot), patios, or other exterior structures.

You might question the necessity of an inspection on new construction. However, realize that even though city inspectors have passed certain phases of the construction process and the home has received a certificate of occupancy, there could be numerous small items that may require attention that may or may not surface during the course of homeownership and yet could be a potential structural or safety hazard. Home inspectors provide a unique customer service in identifying