15 Things To Look For During Your Home Inspection

We always recommend that you have a home inspection on any home you buy. The inspector is trained to find issues that could cost you a lot of money down the road. Over the course of bein a real estate agent, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to watch for during your home inspection. Please keep in mind I’m not a trained professional in home inspections and this is just my opinion on items that you need to further evaluate if they show up on your inspection report.

15 Things To Watch For During Your Home Inspection

1. Make sure to look for cracks in the sheetrock and doors that don’t close properly because both of these could mean potential settlement issues and should be evaluated further.

2. Make sure to check under sinks for possible leaks and any grayish blue piping. This type of piping is called poly butylene plumbing. It is known to get hairline cracks from the chlorine found in public water and could lead to costly repairs down the road.

3. Make sure to check the crawlspace for any water intrusion and white marks on foundation walls. This could be conducive to mold and should be evaluated further.

4. Make sure to flush all toilets and run the water at all sinks to ensure there is sufficient water pressure.

5. Be aware of any damp odor coming from the basement. This could mean water is getting in and needs to be addressed immediately.

6. Make sure lights do not flicker and outlet covers aren’t hot to the touch. If they are, have a certified electrician evaluate this issue and correct it immediately.

7. Make sure kitchen and all bathrooms have GFI outlets to prevent shock hazards since water is nearby.

8. Be aware of loose handrails and uneven walkways to prevent falling.

9. Make sure all smoke alarms are in operational order. If your home has gas make sure to have a carbon monoxide detector to alert you in the event of a gas leak.

10. Make sure the garage door has a safety reverse device and the electric eye sensors are operational.

11. Make sure the stove has an anti-tip bracket engaged to reduce any potential hazards if it were to fall over.

12. Make sure to check for missing shingles and cracked roof boots. These lead to water intrusion and should be addressed as quickly as possible.
13. 
    Make sure to ask when the last time the chimney was cleaned out. If the seller is unsure simply call a chimney sweep for help.

14. If the home you are looking at has a septic tank request that the septic tank be pumped if it hasn’t been pumped within the last 2 years. This will ensure that you shouldn’t have any issues after moving in because it will be empty.

15. If the home you are looking at has a well you should test the water from an outside spigot and take it to your local environmental health department to ensure there is no bacteria in your water. In the event there is bacteria in your water you should chlorinate the well. Then take your new sample back to environmental health for testing. Well test kits are available at Home Depot.

*Of course it’s always best to hire a licensed home inspector, but this gives you an idea of a few things to look for during that inspection. *