Termite Mounds are Never a Pretty Sight in your Home

Termites in the home

For most people in Florida, finding their home has termites instantly fills them with fear. For a homeowner trying to eradicate termites and kill them off is very difficult to do. The only successful way to remove the the problem is have it treated by professionals. They use specialized equipment and treatments.

Termites often go unnoticed and are difficult to locate and find, hiring a professional home inspection company that includes a termite inspection as part of their services is the way to go. A professional inspector can help advise homeowners on the current damage, and the next steps to get rid of the pests and wipe them out of the home.

The subterranean termites found in Florida build their nests underground and create multiple tunnels to gain access to food sources. Unfortunately, food sources are sometimes the wood that is used in the foundation and joist holding up the house. Termites are veracious and can make easy progress through damp and dying wood.

As a homeowner it is wise to check crawl spaces and the foundation area for termite activity and presence. The key to limiting termite damage and their presence is catching it early and getting a specialist to strategize the best treatment plans.

Termites are very small and can enter your building through tiny cracks in the foundation walls and through small holes in the structure at ground level. Termites have the ability to infest any building and cause serious damage to the foundation and that can bring your house crumbling down.

If you are, in any way, concerned about the presence of termites in and around your property it would be highly recommended that you contact a local professional home inspection company. Ask about the different types of inspections they provide and if a termite inspection is included in the services.

 

 

Four Point Inspections are What Insurance Companies are now Requiring

Four Point Inspection

You may have heard of a four point inspection service, but you may be unfamiliar about what is includes. A professional four point inspection is not the same as a full home inspection, hence the name “four point inspection”. The main areas associated with the home’s health include these four systems, HVAC, Roof, Plumbing, and Electrical.

In most states, home inspections are not legally required from the buyer, but insurance companies are now requiring a four point inspection (4-point inspection) is carried out on all homes built 30 years ago or more. Anyone who owns a home older than 30 years, or anyone wanting to buy an older home, are now required by the insurance companies to submit a 4-point inspection before the insurance company offers coverage on that property.

This is what a typical 4-point inspection includes an evaluation of the structure’s roof, electrical system, plumbing system, heating and ventilation and AC system. Insurance companies will not risk insuring a property with major issues in any of these primary areas covered in four point inspection, unless they are repaired and brought up to current standards.

Contacting a local home inspection company and requesting a four point inspection service is the first step in ensuring you have the full details needed to have any major repairs fixed on the property. Based on the report, fix any necessary repairs, to ensure your home qualifies for home insurance coverage.

If you are looking at buying insurance for your home, then make sure you inquire today about the benefits of a four point inspection. Also, sometimes the insurance company doesn’t need all four areas inspected; it may request only the electrical, if that is the case, let the inspector know right away because that changes the price quote.

A professional four point inspection is the only way to guarantee you get the insurance coverage you need to protect your older property in case of theft, fire, or weather damage.

 

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A Home Inspection includes Structural Damage Assessment

 

Serious structural damage

When you are looking to buy a home or property it is important to hire a home inspection company who can check the house for structural damage. Some damage is fairly obvious to see and is clearly visible, sagging roof lines, leaning walls are easy to spot. When structural defects, like the ones mentioned are found, it is always the best practice to get a professional qualified home inspector’s opinion and assessment on the damage.

The roof is always the easiest spot to identify structural damage and this can be done by viewing it at a distance. What you are looking for is sagging in the middle of the roof structure or at the two ends. A sagging roof points to possible foundation damage and also the movement of load bearing walls.

When checking walls for structure damage it’s easiest to place a level along the side of the wall to check if the wall is balanced and straight. Depending on what type of foundation your home was built on will determine what ways it will need to be checked.

In some cases, the building may have shifted, meaning that it’s not square with the foundation. A flooded basement could mean soaked wood; when wood soaks up water it expands pushing the walls out of sync. A qualified home inspector will have experience in checking the condition of your foundation.

When the structure for damage you are looking for cracks in the walls, look near windows and doors and around the corners of the building. Cracks are fairly easy to spot but depending on the level of damage they may not come cheap to repair.

A professional home inspection will have you covered in terms of checking your building or property for structural damage and other aspects of the structure. If you are looking at buying a home, then do not rely on your own expertise, rely on the expertise of a certified and licensed home inspection company today to take you through the process.

Why should I Prepare for a Home Inspection?

Get prepared for a home inspection

The Federal Law in the U.S. leaves it up to individual states to regulate home inspections. That means there are many states that don’t deem it necessary for a home inspection to be carried out during the home buying process. The best thing you can do is plan well and include a home inspection service as part of your property transaction.

Home Inspections for Buyers

As with any purchase, attention to the details is needed, in order to help you make the final decision in saying, “Yes”, to buying it. For people buying a home, the location and the condition of the property are the major selling points. A pre-purchase inspection uncovers the true condition of a property and that is why it should be considered before signing on the property.

Planning to hire a home inspection, for the property you want to buy, is one of the best ways to discover what you need to make the best decision on buying it. You should be prepared to attend the inspection.

Home Inspections for Sellers

By preparing your home for an inspection, it allows you, as the seller, to have the property in its best condition, to look attractive, and ready to be sold. When your home is ready for inspection it prevents the need for multiple inspections to be carried out. As a homeowner you want the sale to go smoothly with as little snags as possible.

When you have the results of your pre-listing home inspection make sure you leave plenty of time to take care of any repairs. What you don’t want is repairs still being carried out when buyers are walking through the house.

In Conclusion

Hire a home inspection company in good time, whether you are buying or selling, as it provides valuable information on a property. Sellers need to prepare for a home inspection, and remember to present the home in its best condition.

A home inspection service is a great way to find out what needs replaced and repaired before your home is ready to be sold. It’s also an excellent way for buyers to determine if they are prepared to fix or handle any pre-existing issues on the property.

Don’t make the mistake of ignoring a home inspection service

Home inspection areas of interest

There are many positive aspects of hiring a home inspection service; one of those aspects is that it gives the potential buyer of the property a more detailed account than that of a home appraisal. A professional home inspection will give you the vital information that is needed to make the best decision concerning that property and your potential future in it.

A typical home inspection would include the qualified inspector doing an in depth assessment of the property and then presenting you with an unbiased report of all the issues and concerns that are found with it during the inspection period. The physical and structural condition will all be evaluated and also the working components within the home. Plumbing and electrical systems are also tested giving a wide range and detailed report on completion of the inspection.

Many people looking to buy a home are realising that a home inspection service is a great way to ensure that they are making a valid investment in the property they’re looking to buy. Making the biggest investment in your life is not easy it can be a nervy time for all involved.

When hiring a home inspector make sure that you look around and find the best company with the best services and the most experienced of inspectors working for them. A home inspection may cost a few hundred dollars but it can save you thousands in the long run.

As a home buyer there are a few things that you need to make sure that the home buying process goes as well as possible. A home inspection gives you the confidence to either push on with the sale or drop out and start looking for a more suitable property. A home inspection is a great way to make sure that this happens.

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