What to Look For in Home Inspection?

It's recommended that you spend a few hundreds of dollars for a home inspection before putting pen to paper or finally purchasing that house. No matter the opinion of your realtor or any other supposed-expert, home inspection could save you from spending thousands of dollars for repair in the long run and most first-time home buyers do not have the right information on what a home inspection is all about. To help you have a good start, we've put together these invaluable tips that should be used when buying a home.

Your quick home inspection checklist

These are specific important areas of the house that your inspector should consider and they include:

The Roof:

The condition of the roof is not something to be taken lightly because replacement cost could be as high as seven thousand dollars. Therefore, you should know:

• How old is the roof and when exactly it could be changed
• Whether there are signs of leaks and the shingles are available
• Clogged gutters and if there are flashing and trim installed

Security system

How strong and ductile is the locks? If there will be a need to rekey the locks or upgrade them to a more efficient and smart lock installation.

Whether the front doors, garage doors, windows, emergency exits are still intact.

Electrical system

The inspector should check the electrical wiring to identify potential faults. Other fixtures and appliances that are powered by electricity like the water heater, washing machine, should be checked by the inspector.

The plumbing system

This is a system that is most neglected by homeowners, but they are problematic when not properly maintained. The inspector should check if all the fixtures get hot water from the water heater and that the system is working correctly.

The heating and AC should also be cross examined since they are costly to repair and can be frustrating during winter season. 

Structural and foundational issues

For your safety and that of all the members of your household, the inspection to identify possible foundational or structural flaws, such as:

• Visible cracks on the outside walls
• Signs of structural modifications due to vertical or horizontal cracks
• Condition of the floors, walls, ceilings, including walkways and driveways

Other things to look out for are:

• Fire/carbon monoxide dictator
• Ventilation
• Insulation, mold, drainage and aesthetics of the house
• Hire an experienced inspector

From the above, you've known the important things to check out for an inspection to be successful. Now it's time to hire an inspector who could do the job.

We recommend that you search for qualified inspectors with good reviews and reputations. But before hiring one, you have to:

• Know what the inspection will cover and the entire cost
• Insist to be present throughout the inspection to ask some questions (if you have the time)
• Know the experience of the inspector and sample of previous reports
• Recommendations or reviews from other clients.

Buying a home could be the highest investment you'd make and so no stone should be left unturned. Let the experts at Smart Locksmith know if you'd like to do a security upgrade of your new home and we will be of great help.