What to Expect at a Home Inspection

If you're selling your house, it's only a matter of time before it goes under agreement and your buyers will want to do a home inspection. They want to know your home inside and out, and look for any problems it might have. The home is usually the biggest investment people will make in their lifetimes, so buyers want to be on the look out for potential problems.

What can you expect when a home inspector comes in? Don't take it personally if you feel your house is being picked apart! A home inspector is hired as someone who can give you an objective view, and point out any potential problems. A good home inspector will also teach the new buyers about proper home maintenance. Basically, they are getting paid to pick your house apart!

There are some certainties about what they will be looking for. These are the "biggies."

The structure of the home is the most important. Be on the lookout for rotten sills, which is the area that actually holds your house up. Insect damage and dampness are things that can lead to the downfall of your structure. All of them can be taken care of with proper maintenance. To have a solid house, you must start with a solid foundation.

Roofing problems are another "biggie." When water is allowed to enter in through your roof, it can run down through your walls and ultimately into your basement. That's a lot of area that has the potential to rot if not treated properly! They will check to make sure your roof is in good condition, and give a rough estimate of the time it has left with proper care.

They are also on the look out for potential electrical and plumbing problems. Overloaded circuits can lead to "brown outs" or worse, fire. Fuses are an older version, and can work fine, but most homes will need more "amps" to run today's modern household. Plumbing problems, including leaks or corrosion cause problems as well by allowing water to leak either into your interior walls or into your basement. Worse yet, is if your sewer pipes are leaking, that's not a pleasant leak to have!

If you have a chimney, you can be sure they will be looking at the masonry work. If you have loose or missing bricks, it can be a fire hazard. If you have problems in the basement, it can also lead to carbon monoxide problems if you heat with oil or gas.

Heating and cooling issues will also be noted. You want to make sure your furnace is in proper working order, as well as your cooling system. Improperly maintained heating systems that run on either oil or gas can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which is deadly.

All of these problems can be prevented with proper maintenance on your home. If you are selling, or thinking of selling, you might want to take a walk around your property before a buyer performs a home inspection to be on the look out for potential problems that could kill your sale. If you do find a problem, it will give you the opportunity to have it repaired before an inspection. Home inspections that reveal problems are the biggest reason sales fall apart. You don't want to scare away someone who is going to buy your home and lose out on a potential sale! Be aware of any defects your home has before the home inspection, so you know what to expect.