We can all agree on one thing and that is that buying a home is a massive, financial step. Now knowing that this is one of the biggest decisions that you can make in your lifetime, it is essential that you watch all the steps you are taking very closely. You will need all the information that is possible to give you the assurance that the decision you are making is the right one. The way to get the best information on any property that you are looking to buy is hiring a professional affiliated home inspector to check out your potential property.
Buying a home is costly to say the least and can leave your savings severely depleted and to the bare bones. It is not uncommon for homebuyersto look to skip paying out extra costs on a qualified home inspector, and look at cheaper ways of getting an inspection service carried out. The problem is if you don’t get a professional inspector, you won’t get a professional home inspection.
The home inspection industry is becoming more regulated and in most states home inspectors need to have completed professional training which is provided by NAHI before they can look at beginning a home inspector’s career. Nevertheless, there are some schemers out there that offer professional services and don’t really have any experience in the home inspection industry.
When looking for a professional home inspection company, make sure that you do your homework. Select the best companies that are local to you and from them make a shortlist. You want to be checking for the most professional out of those companies, ideally the company with the most experience and proven track record of high quality results and fair pricing rates.
In finishing, you should not be asking yourself “Do I need a qualified inspector?” Instead, you should be asking “Who is the best qualified inspector that can help me?” Don’t get caught up by hiring an unqualified home inspector. You will more than likely pay the price further down the line. That price could cost you the roof over your head.
Buying a new home is a BIG deal! Any type of large investment such as this is worth doing right from beginning to end. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned homebuyer there are a few blunders that can cost you more than you intended.
Generally, the mistakes that are made happen in the between time of putting an offer on a home, up to the closing. It’s easy to get overexcited about closing on a house that you love, but don’t do it unless you’ve already considered these three things.
Blunder #1:
The first blunder to avoid when buying a home is declining the home inspection. Yes, it may cost more, but it is worth knowing if the home you are about to purchase is safe to live in. Remember that you will need a whole house inspection and special inspections such as, mold, radon, well-water, or termite. Do not sign any type of contingency clause without first getting an inspection.
Blunder #2
The second blunder to avoid when buying a home is not asking the seller questions. Sellers do not have to tell you any kind of negative information about their residence; however, if you ask questions, then the seller is obligated to share information with you. If you have more questions after looking over the house, ask your realtor to find the answers for you.
Knowing exactly what you are getting into is a smart step in the right direction.
Blunder #3
The third blunder to avoid when buying a home is getting too emotionally involved. When you enter the house you would like to purchase, attempt to look past all the home décor. Here is why, you are purchasing the as-is structure along with any hidden damage. This is why it is essential to avoid blunder #1 get an inspection first and ensure that the structure is in great condition.
If you have any questions regarding the different types of inspections available, contact us for a free consultation at 407-658-8267.
Just as it’s important to keep up with recalls on toys, or child car seats, it’s also vitally important to know when something major on a home product has a recall. As example, in 2009*, homes built in 2004-2005 all had AFCI Breakers installed in the home. It turned out that the Square D breaker with a blue reset button was not detecting the electrical arc as it should, which is a hazard to residents.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out an alert recalling that particular part. Home inspectors are given a list of safety guidelines and any product recall that are hazardous to a house. The most recent recalls posted via the CPSC website are gas fireplaces and “fireplace inserts due to explosion hazards,” another is a Dyson product recall.
As homeowner’s it is important to maintain the home, such as clear out the gutters during the year. In addition to checking for any loose shingles on the roof, walking around the home’s foundation looking for cracks, all of these are a small part of owning a home. The other part is keeping track of consumer product recalls that could be a safety risk to you and your family.
One quick way of finding out if any of the electrical wiring is not up to safety standards is to have a 4-point inspection. It is not necessary to have all the four major systems inspected, you can elect to have one of the major systems inspected instead of all of them, which saves on costs.
Too often, people get an inspection at the time of a purchase and then forget about the service. However, choosing to have a routine home inspection every five years or so assures you that your home is still safe to live in.
It is the usual time of year where homeowner’s and renter’s replace and/or check the batteries of the smoke alarms in their homes. Many just buy the 9v batteries and switch them out. In order to keep houses safe from fire it is essential to do the research on the most up-to-date info regarding smoke alarms. For instance, ASHI recommends that homes have photoelectric alarms installed over ionization alarms.
What is a Photoelectric Smoke Detector?
There are two different types of fires that can happen in a home, the first is a flaming, and the second is a smoldering fire. Typical examples of a flame-igniting fire are burning toaster, or cooking fire. Smoldering fires can happen because of a cigarette left or old wiring, this type of fires mostly produces smoke and sometime no flame.
Photoelectric detector is quicker to respond to a smoldering flame and an open flame in comparison to the ionization alarm systems. A study proved that “in smoldering-ignition fires, the probability of fatality due to failure of the alarm was 55.8% for ionization alarms vs. 4.06% for photoelectric alarms.”
Are the Smoke Alarms installed in Proper Locations?
It is important to install the detectors on every level and in sleeping areas to make sure occupants are warned in the appropriate amount of time to get out of a burning home. Try not to install them near the corners of the ceiling and walls.
Check the Date on all Alarms
Before just replacing the batteries in your current smoke alarms and then forgetting about it, check the back of the alarm for the date it was manufactured. If that date is over 10 years, it needs replacing.
Invest in Wireless & Interconnected Smoke Detectors
To keep you and your family safe from being trapped inside your home in case of fires, look into wireless and interconnected systems. This is especially important if the home is multi-level and does not have hardwired alarm system installed in the walls. Wireless alarms work in a way that if one is triggered the others are triggered too.
Human waste is generally a topic that people avoid, that is until something goes wrong with the septic system. There is nothing worse for a homeowner then dealing with a backed up septic system. As a homeowner, or soon-to-be-homeowner, you need to know that the maintenance of the septic is entirely up to you.
According to EPA.gov it states, “If your septic system isn’t maintained, you might need to replace it, costing you thousands of dollars.” The quickest way of knowing if the septic system is in good, working order is to have an inspection performed.
The septic system is made up of four major components that all need to work properly to maintain a productive and effective way of treatment for household wastewater. The first component is the pipe attached to the home that allows the wastewater to exit and enter the septic tank.
The second component is the septic tank, where the wastewater flows. The septic tank allows the waste to form into a sludge, and oil/grease to rise to top, and typically has screens to prevent the sludge/scum from entering into the drain field.
The drain field is the third component of the septic system. Many states are requiring homes now have a reserve drain field. The drain field is where the wastewater exits from the septic tank. If the drain field clogs or backs up, it causes flooding and waste to rise to the ground surface. It also keeps the wastewater from necessary treatment.
The last component is soil and is the final treatment of the wastewater. It is at the soil stage where treatment removes the most harmful substances like bacteria or viruses.
When should the homeowner or homeowner-to-be have the septic system inspected? If a first time homebuyer, then it is necessary that the inspection be done before signing the property contract. Once a contract is signed, then the responsibility and cost of septic problems will become the responsibility of the new owner. If a homeowner already, then the EPA recommends that in order to keep a healthy maintained system, a professional should inspect it every 3 years.
If the home has an alternative septic system that includes an electrical float switch, it needs inspection at least once a year. Overall, the septic system is one of the most important parts of a home, and should be maintained and inspected regularly. The main reason it should be inspected is because not only will it help on cost savings from replacement, it ensures that it will not cause any health risks due to working improperly.
We recently found 3 Orlando homes while performing home inspections within 2 months apart experiencing signs of corrosive Chinese Drywall issues. The first home was located in St. Cloud, Florida and had a noticeable sulfur-like smell upon entering. The listing Realtor had stated the smell was because of dried up sewer traps but this was later found to not be the case. We discovered the typical blackening of the copper piping inside both HVAC systems (air handlers) along with heavy corrosion of the copper electrical wiring throughout the home.
No actual visible stamps or markings were found but this is uncommon as most of the drywall stamping is hidden inside the wall cavities, requiring removal of the drywall for inspection.
Homes called “hybrids” are known in the industry as being built with partial domestic (non-corrosive) drywall but also with some imported (corrosive) drywall. These homes are often more difficult to detect as the amount of sulfur compounds released will be in smaller quantities.
How do you know if your home has Chinese Drywall? A professional Orlando home inspection may be the best way to determine it’s presence. If your home is built or remodeled during or after 2001 you have an increased chance of harboring this corrosive material. Here is a link to the Department of Health’s website on steps homeowners can take to make a self-assessment. If you have any suspicion or would like a thorough inspection, call CFBI today.
