If you’ve found your dream home and are busy working with your realtor to create an offer, the last thing on your mind may be an inspection. After all, you new home may seem perfect just the way it is! However, a home inspection should always be a condition of purchase; even when on the surface, the house couldn’t look better. That’s because there can always be hidden problems or issues that a lay person just isn’t going to notice. Here are just a few things that a home inspector will help you catch.
Outside. There are so many things to check outside, that I just don’t have the time to go over them all. That said, I’ll try to give you a general idea. The five big things outside that’ll need to be inspected are the grounds, the structure, the exterior surfaces, the doors and windows, and the roof. While looking over the grounds, your inspector will make sure your trees, walls, siding, fence, railing, sidewalk, pavement, and what not are all in good condition, but what they’re really paying attention for is water damage. Is the drainage away from the house up to grade? Is there any evidence of leaks or standing water? Are the downspouts in good condition and facing the right way?
Inside. Once inside, your inspector will carefully look over every room, but they’ll likely give extra attention to your kitchen and washroom. As with the outdoors, the inside inspection is going to involve a lot of little detail work. Checking if windows open, the walls and ceiling aren’t cracked, and the flooring is in good condition. However, they’ll also be looking for things homeowner’s may miss. Is there heating is each habitable room? Are there enough outlets? Is there evidence of adequate insulation? The kitchen and bathroom inspection will also look at the smaller details, but mostly it will focus on water, plumbing, and the electrical work. The inspector’s main goal is to make sure your home is safe to live in. That’s why there’s so much focus on water damage — which can cause mould — and other expensive but necessary elements like electricity and plumbing.
Nooks and Crannies. The final part of your inspection will include all the nooks and crannies where people rarely venture. This includes the attic, basement, crawl space, and mechanical room. While they’re there, they’ll give your entire plumbing, heating / cooling system, and electrical set up a good look. This is one of the most important areas for determining that your house is safe with no risk of leaks, mould, or insect problems. They’ll also make sure there are enough carbon monoxide monitors in the home.
Getting an inspection is an important part of buying your home. An inspection should find any major problems and notify you of the smaller ones. Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make so getting all the information just makes sense. By having an inspection, you can be confident in your decision to go through with your offer. Do you need a great Calgary realtor to help answer your questions and guide you through the home buying process? Call me today at (403) 660-5319.