If you are considering buying a home, then you should definitely be looking to contact and hire a professional home inspector. It is essential you consider attending the evaluation with the inspector as it occurs. An experienced home inspection company also advises this practice. Below is a list of things you need to participate in actively when the home inspection is carried out.
1. Make sure that you are present
It is good practice to make sure to appear at the inspection. This helps you understand the problems that are highlighted in the final report. It also gives a chance to ask any questions on certain subjects regarding the home as they come up.
2. Has there been foundation movement?
A more common issue with homes is foundational movement. These issues can be very costly to repair and amount to serious headaches (and safety issues) in the future. This is especially true if it is left in its current state. A qualified inspector knows what to search for, this includes looking for structural cracks above windows and doors, clear uneven floors. One tip is to check the alignment of doors and windows. Check each of them are level, and the function of each is unrestricted.
3. Is the electrical system functioning properly?
All wiring needs reviewed and checked that it is up-to-date and wired with the correct materials in the building codes of practice. Older dated homes may pose greater potential risks of fire hazard because the wiring is old and outdated.
4. Evaluate the deal breakers
Every single home will have its fair share of problems, and this includes newer built homes. After the inspection is completed, you should be looking to evaluate the “deal breakers” highlighted by the report. Then decide if you are making the correct decision in regards to pushing the deal.
Recent trends show that Orlando in Florida is quickly becoming a very popular city to relocate. Many people travel there for vacation from all parts of the world, as well as, to escape the colder climates from where they come from. It can be agreed than that property investment is at an all-time high and only looks to increase in Central Florida considering the previous trends.
When the bank foreclosures, and the economy was struggling the real estate market suffered severely, but the market has been picking up a little over the recent years, and now many high quality properties can be picked up at very generous pricing.
When one is looking to purchase a home, it is the biggest single investment that can be made; this means that the decision on what property they are looking to buy is the right one, and not the biggest, costly mistake they ever make. It is essential that any potential property be professionally checked for damage by its previous occupants, and checked for any signs of aging due to when it was built.
Today, there are many homes sold ‘AS-IS,’ in some cases the sellers are not willing to cover any repair costs. It is basically, what is seen is what one gets, and this includes the repairs to any damages or replacements that are need done. This is why it is highly important for any buyer to get an experienced home inspector to carry out a professional home inspection reporting on any potential repairs. In addition, get an accurate evaluation on any future replacement or repair costs.
In most cases, the buyer has the right to walk away if the repair costs are too high; however, this is subject to the sales contract in place though.
If the potential home has small defects left undetected, then these small issues can soon amount into major issues costing the new homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs. That is why more people need to know the benefits of having a home inspection on their property, ensuring that it really is a dream home worth relocating to, instead of a home of nightmares.
A professional visual home/commercial inspection includes review of the full property site. The building’s exterior is closely evaluated, the roof will undergo a thorough inspection, with chimney, attic, and crawlspaces all checked. A full inspection of the current heating and plumbing system that is in place and their functioning within the property in question.
Professional companies will specialize and understand the importance of having access to crawlspaces in order for them to correctly evaluate the condition of the foundation and look at the structural issue within the crawl space. It’s also a great opportunity to find any plumbing or electrical issues located within the crawl space.
An experienced company will disclose if there is to be any additional construction to the building under inspection and verify if it has been built under the correct construction and safety codes that apply. All built-in appliances within the home will be tested to ensure they are not malfunctioning and working correctly, as well as, energy and safety tests performed, the results and advice from those tests will be clearly explained.
If the home you are looking to buy, or perhaps sell was built prior to 1960, then our extensive report will answer the very important seven seismic disclosure questions, these are questions that the seller must provide the answers to for the potential buyer.
It’s important to know that a home inspection does not grade a home on worn down carpets or torn wall paper. Essentially, the inspector is looking for serious structural issues that if left in its current condition would be a hazard to the occupant’s life, and current on all health and safety codes in place. All areas will be checked for neglected maintenance and accurate repair cost will be reported. It is smart to have a home or commercial building properly evaluated before buying or selling.
At Central Florida Building Inspectors, we know that a home purchase is one of the largest investments we will ever make. Before purchasing a property you should learn as much as you can about it, including what may need to be repaired. Your home inspection will be completed by a qualified home inspector, with attention to detail, who will provide an easy to read report, with digital photos of major concerns.
Who should have a Home Inspection? We’ll take a look at why it would be a great idea for buyers, sellers and even current home owners.
Buyers are always encouraged to be present for the inspection to learn and to familiarize themselves with the home. A home inspection will inspect all of the items that apply from the list below. The inspector will not only inspect easily accessible items such as the plumbing fixtures, electrical wall switches, and mechanical components, but will also inspect the difficult to access areas, including the attic, if possible. The buyer will receive a thorough report documenting any safety concerns, which will allow the buyer to make a more informed decision about purchasing the property.
A pre-listing home inspection can give the sellers an overview of the current condition of the house, especially if the owners are aware that routine maintenance has not been performed. The seller will receive a detailed report noting any safety concerns, items that do not function as normal, and serious issues. This information gives the sellers the opportunity to repair current and/or potential problems before listing the property.
Current home owners that are aware that minimal maintenance has been carried out on their home, may wish to have a home inspection performed to point out what repairs are necessary and to locate minor repairs before they become major problems. The owner will receive a detailed report documenting any concerns and defects that can be used as a check list for repairs.
At CFBI, we would welcome the opportunity to help give you more peace of mind in this area.
