Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide
whether it is attractive. They might notice it is freshly
painted in pleasing colors, has the requisite number of rooms, a
cook's kitchen and is located in a location with top schools.
But what about less obvious parts of the house?
It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts
of a home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do
you determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical
problems, structural problems, drainage problems, the condition
of heating and air conditioning equipment and the condition of
literally hundreds of other items that could cause concern?
Enter the home inspector.
A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the
construction and working parts of homes. It is not an exact
science.
The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can't always
see everything they'd like to. They do, however, come equipped
with ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various
things related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home
items. Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a
digital camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not
lying flat, signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction
that doesn't comply with building codes. They don't miss much.
It's a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home
inspection. If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually
explain how things work to you. This is important as they can
show you where cut off valves are, how to remove filters for
cleaning or replacement and tell you how often various
maintenance chores need to be done. This information can be very
valuable if you ultimately purchase the property.
It's also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any
particular tests they would perform if they were buying the
home. For example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is
a carcinogen) can be a problem in some parts of the country. It
can be detected, measured, and, if levels are above EPA
standards, there are procedures to deal with it successfully. A
home inspector can help identify such issues for you.
It's easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of
valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a
listed home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding
disastrous discoveries down the line.
More Information:Visit
http://www.fsboamerica.org/ for more details.
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