Before making that offer on a home, do your own pre-inspection
One of the first questions I ask my clients when they hire me is if
they had noticed anything about the home they have specific concerns
about. I take extra time to look at the issue to either determine the
severity or ease their minds about it.
Over the course of my home inspection career, I have determined that
there are a few things buyers can easily look for on the final
walkthrough before they make an offer on a home and hire a home
inspector. This can help you by determining beforehand if the home is
worth the time and money of making an initial offer.
Here are a few quick things to look for. Remember to bring a small flashlight.
Go down to the basement and look for signs of moisture or cracking in
the foundation. These are easily spotted by doing a quick scan of the
exterior walls and floor. If it hasn’t rained in awhile there might not
be any moisture present, but you can look for efflorescence (a white
powdery type substance indicative of water penetration points in the
foundation walls), mold or mildew (black/stained areas), cracks in the
walls, etc. Smaller cracks may not be a problem and a home inspector
can give you a better indication on the severity.
Try to find where the plumbing drains come thru the floor. If leaking
has occurred it will be readily visible with a flashlight. Look for
staining on the sub flooring and/or floor joists around the
penetration. Staining could indicate potential rotting in the flooring
or floor structure.
Look for electrical wiring that is unsecured, or hanging loose. Also
look for switch, outlet and junction boxes with no covers. This could
indicate “handyman" wiring which could mean that there are more serious
problems with the electrical issues which can cost money to repair
correctly. Handymen do not know about codes or safety!
In the livable area of the home look under sinks for signs of leaks, rotting and/or evidence of mold/mildew.
Look at the ceilings and walls for signs of water stains and/or
significant cracking. Water stains can indicate a leaking roof or
condensation in the attic. Cracking can indicate structural concerns.
Look at the electrical outlets for signs of burning stains. This can indicate an electrical problem.
Take notice to the flooring in the rooms. Does the carpet smell? (pet
urine or previous water issues) Is the floor sloped? (An indication of
foundation settlement). Are the tiles broken/cracked or linoleum
curling?
Outside take a quick scan at the roof. Are the shingles curling,
cracking, or growing moss? These can indicate that the roof is nearing
the end of its life and may need replacement soon which can be a major
expense.
Take notice to the windows and trim. Are the windows cracked, broken or
show signs of moisture between the panes? Are their any noticeable
signs of rot?
If you noticed moisture evidence in the basement, take a quick look
outside to possibly see why. Is the landscaping sloping toward the
structure or away from it? Are there gutters on the home to direct
water away from the home?
These are just a few of the things that a home inspector looks for. A
home inspection is quite a bit more detailed, but you can look for
these items yourself quickly and it will give you a better indication
on the condition of the home.
If after doing your own pre-inspection you still decide to make an
offer, be sure to get a qualified home inspector to more thoroughly
inspect the home. Make the inspector aware of your findings and ask
them to specifically look at the items you have concerns about.
To find a home inspector in your area you can use the following resources.
In Wisconsin:
http://wisconsin-home-inspectors.com
Across the nation:
http://findaninspector.us
http://homeinspections-usa.com
About the author: Kevin McMahon is a licensed professional home
inspector in Wisconsin and owner of ABC Home Inspection, LLC located in
Stevens Point, WI. You can visit his website at certified-inspector.com.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety. All links and/or
references must be included.
» left by Anonymous (324 days 4 hours ago.)
Thanks. this was helpful. There was precious little of this kind of advice on the web. Respond to this comment
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