Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide whether it is
attractive. They might notice it is freshly painted in pleasing colors,
has the requisite number of rooms, a cook’s kitchen and is located in a
location with top schools. But what about less obvious parts of the
house?
It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts of a
home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do you
determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical problems,
structural problems, drainage problems, the condition of heating and
air conditioning equipment and the condition of literally hundreds of
other items that could cause concern?
Enter the home inspector.
A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the
construction and working parts of homes. It is not an exact science.
The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can’t always see
everything they’d like to. They do, however, come equipped with
ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various things
related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home items.
Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a digital
camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not lying flat,
signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction that doesn’t comply
with building codes. They don’t miss much.
It’s a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home
inspection. If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually explain
how things work to you. This is important as they can show you where
cut off valves are, how to remove filters for cleaning or replacement
and tell you how often various maintenance chores need to be done. This
information can be very valuable if you ultimately purchase the
property.
It’s also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any
particular tests they would perform if they were buying the home. For
example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is a carcinogen)
can be a problem in some parts of the country. It can be detected,
measured, and, if levels are above EPA standards, there are procedures
to deal with it successfully. A home inspector can help identify such
issues for you.
It’s easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of
valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a listed
home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding disastrous
discoveries down the line.
