Home Inspections Archives - Caloosa Home Inspections

5 Reasons Why You Should Get A Home Inspection As A Buyer

Home Inspection Frequently Asked Questions

1. Avoid a huge money pit
There are several elements of home ownership that can get quite expensive. Major components of the home—like your roof, appliances, and bathroom fixtures—naturally need to be replaced over time. And major structural issues, like a leaky basement or faulty wiring, can lead to expensive damage and repair down the road if not caught early.

That’s why it’s essential to have your new home inspected before you finalize the sale. Regardless of whether the property is decades old or new construction, there’s potential for major issues that could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars shortly after moving in.

Red Flags: Water Damage

One of the most serious, common, and financially straining issues with a home is Water Damage.

When water gets into a home’s foundations and has no real way of draining out, it can cause a wide range of issues. Most of these problems are significant red flags when buying a property. For example, undrained water underneath the building will damage the foundations and cause your home to rest upon weak support. This could make the foundation completely unstable and subject to movements, which will have a knock-on effect throughout the home.

How to Prepare the Exterior of Your House to Pass a Home Inspection

1. Clear your drains.
Tackle any slow drains in your home before they become clogged. It’s better to snake the drain with a wire hanger, or clog remover tool, rather than use drain cleaner, which can be hard on your pipes.

2. Gut the gutters.
Gutter maintenance should take place at least twice a year, or as the seasons change. Gutters overflowing with debris won’t do their job, and can lead to much more costly water damage. Check and clean your gutters every spring and fall, clearing away any muck, sealing any leaks, and replacing damaged gutters as needed.

Most Common Reasons Why Homes Fail Inspection

Problem #1: Deteriorated roofing.

Problem #2: Drainage issues.

Problem #3: Faulty foundation.

Problem #4: Plumbing problems.

Problem #5: Pest infestations.

5 MORE Tips to Help Your Home Pass Inspection.

1. Double check your downspout.
Take a look around the perimeter of your home to check for downspouts that have become either detached from your home. If downspouts become detached or faulty, water will not get directed away from the home and can lead to water intrusion or even foundation issues.

2. Remove evidence of water damage.
If you’ve experienced some kind of water damage in your home, you probably fixed it right away, but have you repaired the evidence?
Anything that looks like it might raise questions, you want to take care of before you schedule your home inspection.

5 Tips to Help Your Home Pass Inspection

1. Check to see that the doorbell works—if not, replace it.
There is no worst first impression for a home inspector than to be greeted by a broken doorbell.

2. Restore power to any dead outlets. Check them all. are there any not working? Consider replacing any bad outlets with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacles. The kind with the “Test” and “Reset” buttons.