It's a great question but maybe more importantly, "Who are you going to look for to perform your home inspection?"
We'll break down the details.
The purpose of a home inspection is to investigate current issues the home may have, known or unknown and assess what reasonable steps can and should be taken to remedy an issue if it were to require attention. Part of this is to check the important household systems, including electrical, cooling/heating, and plumbing, as well as the roof.
Let's look at a roof for example. The attic will likely be investigated by the inspector, mostly to make sure that the roof is doing it's job of keeping out water and then look at the roof itself; the materials the roof is made of will be noted, and problem places near the chimney, near vents, skylights, and any other place where there are spaces that the roof could be penetrated will be carefully examined.
Even though the exterior looks fine and is wearing well, evidence inside of a leak is found where the roof sits on the exterior wall. But is that the source of the leak? In this example, it's not. The inspector traces the leak to a plumbing vent and then returns to the exterior to find an area of flashing that requires re-caulking with an appropriate roofing product.
The inspectors, with real world experience, know that all homes, new and old, have ongoing maintenance issues to address. If a problem such as this is found, the homeowner can simply hire a contractor to work on the roof to repair the issue, so that everyone involved is satisfied, and the roof will last much longer this way.
Examples of key items you will want your inspector to evaluate and make improvement recommendations on would be:
Electrical; Are the wires made of copper? Is there knob and tube wiring, or aluminum? If renovations are planned, is the panel suitable to be expanded?
The plumbing system; How much longer will your hot water heater last? Does your home have in-floor heating with pipe made of polybutylene? Is your outside drainage system made with concrete tile or clay, or newer PVC with a 2 tier system?
Heating and cooling units; Is the furnace using energy wisely? Could there be a gas leak? Do you know how to maintain your heat pump properly?
Condition of the roof; How much life can you expect out of the current roof and when should you budget for replacement?
The home's interior; Is there loose carpet that can cause a trip hazard? Missing door stops? Is there any issues with a railing on a stairwell?
Structure of the home; Building codes were followed for the home's original construction, but if there were renovations completed without inspection, is the code followed?
Safety and Insurance Concerns; Does the home have enough functional smoke detectors? Has the home been fitted with carbon monoxide detectors? Is there an abandoned underground oil storage tank that needs a specialist to locate?
Homeowners should have a thorough home inspection done in order to be assured that the home is safe, secure, and is a healthy place for you and especially your loved ones.
We'll break down the details.
The purpose of a home inspection is to investigate current issues the home may have, known or unknown and assess what reasonable steps can and should be taken to remedy an issue if it were to require attention. Part of this is to check the important household systems, including electrical, cooling/heating, and plumbing, as well as the roof.
Let's look at a roof for example. The attic will likely be investigated by the inspector, mostly to make sure that the roof is doing it's job of keeping out water and then look at the roof itself; the materials the roof is made of will be noted, and problem places near the chimney, near vents, skylights, and any other place where there are spaces that the roof could be penetrated will be carefully examined.
Even though the exterior looks fine and is wearing well, evidence inside of a leak is found where the roof sits on the exterior wall. But is that the source of the leak? In this example, it's not. The inspector traces the leak to a plumbing vent and then returns to the exterior to find an area of flashing that requires re-caulking with an appropriate roofing product.
The inspectors, with real world experience, know that all homes, new and old, have ongoing maintenance issues to address. If a problem such as this is found, the homeowner can simply hire a contractor to work on the roof to repair the issue, so that everyone involved is satisfied, and the roof will last much longer this way.
Examples of key items you will want your inspector to evaluate and make improvement recommendations on would be:
Electrical; Are the wires made of copper? Is there knob and tube wiring, or aluminum? If renovations are planned, is the panel suitable to be expanded?
The plumbing system; How much longer will your hot water heater last? Does your home have in-floor heating with pipe made of polybutylene? Is your outside drainage system made with concrete tile or clay, or newer PVC with a 2 tier system?
Heating and cooling units; Is the furnace using energy wisely? Could there be a gas leak? Do you know how to maintain your heat pump properly?
Condition of the roof; How much life can you expect out of the current roof and when should you budget for replacement?
The home's interior; Is there loose carpet that can cause a trip hazard? Missing door stops? Is there any issues with a railing on a stairwell?
Structure of the home; Building codes were followed for the home's original construction, but if there were renovations completed without inspection, is the code followed?
Safety and Insurance Concerns; Does the home have enough functional smoke detectors? Has the home been fitted with carbon monoxide detectors? Is there an abandoned underground oil storage tank that needs a specialist to locate?
Homeowners should have a thorough home inspection done in order to be assured that the home is safe, secure, and is a healthy place for you and especially your loved ones.
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