Home Inspection

Most Common Issues Found in a Home Buyers Inspection

Roofs that Leak – Many leaking roofs can be caused by insufficient flashing. In a nutshell, flashing helps to prevent moisture penetration into the roof and home. You will also find roofs that leak because of aging shingles and roofing materials. And lastly, sometimes you will find home owners who tried to “fix it themselves,” but end up creating larger problems then when they started?! Nothing like a homeowner trying to go it alone!

Drainage Issues – A top home inspector will determine if the water is flowing away from the home or flowing towards the home. You may need to look and see if the mls listing needs gutters and/or downspouts. Also, check to see if the ground level drainage systems have been property graded. Grading can become very expensive, so be sure to be aware of this.

Insufficient Ventilation – It’s so damp in here!! As we know, sometimes moisture accumulates throughout various parts of the home. Generally, it is easiest to be found in the bathroom areas. Thankfully, this can be fixed fairly easily. Installing a fan, and keeping windows open can help this situation out tremendously. No one is crazy about too much moisture/mold that can be found in a home!

Electrical Wiring Problems – Many homes may not have electrical wiring that has been properly installed and grounded. If it has not been installed correctly, there is a risk that anyone in the home could be vulnerable to shock. Very scary and obviously, very dangerous as well. Any older properties often do need electrical upgrades, which includes circuit breaker panels as well as new wiring. This too can be costly.

Defective Heating Systems – With any sort of older heating systems, they generally require maintenance and may not be energy efficient. In addition, non-electrical systems also run the risk of emitting carbon monoxide fumes. Obviously, it does make sense for the home owner to have a carbon monoxide detector, especially in this type of situation.

Overall Poor Maintenance of the Home – There are so many “do it yourselfers” out there. They want to fix any and all home items on their own. Unfortunately, in nearly all of these situations, the owner does not fix the problem correctly. Even more so, the owner often can damage the home more so then when they started out.

Water Seepage through Doors and Windows – If an inspector does find any sort of water damage or intrusion in a home, then adding weather stripping and re-caulking those areas will become necessary. Having water enter the home in these areas can prove to be very costly. It is important to have your inspector check these areas very thoroughly.

Hazardous Items – Older homes, for example many homes in Minneapolis and St Paul, may contain lead based paint, asbestos, and other hazardous materials. It is also imperative to check for carbon monoxide, radon, and mold as well. If a home has oil heat, the underground stored tanks also need to be checked as well. Hazardous materials can really prove to be a major problem of course.

Plumbing Issues – A good home inspector is going to look for faulty pipes and fixtures. In addition, he or she will see if the plumbing parts are made of materials that are compatible. For example, any sort of more leak prone PB (polybutylene) piping that was popular in the 1970s through the 1990s, should be replaced. Times have changed, and this type of material needs to be updated.

Structural Damage – Often times a leaky roof or foundation that is settling means that doorways, walls, and even some support beams do not close properly and they are out of line. Naturally, these are items that should be fixed prior to closing. Any sort of structural damage must be taken very seriously.

Work with home inspector to do a thorough inspection. And don’t feel badly about asking the current owner to fix a number of items prior to closing. Especially anything that is “major.” If the homeowner refuses, you will always have the option of canceling the purchase agreement based on the home inspection.