11 Things You Need to Know About Home Inspection

“According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection of the home you’re planning to buy. Here are 11 you should know about.”

You Need to Know the Home You’re Buying Inside and Out

While homebuyers are as individual as the homes they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be.

Will the roof end up leaking? Is the wiring safe? What about the plumbing?

These and others are the questions you’ll ask about any home you plan to buy.

According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection. We’ve identified the 11 most common of these, and if not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly after you move in.

11 Things You Need to Know During the Home Inspection

1. Defective Plumbing – Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking, and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom and then flushing the toilet.

If you hear the sound of running water it indicates that the pipes are undersized. If the water appears dirty when first turned on at the faucet this is a good indication that the pipes are rusting which can result in severe water quality problems.

2. Damp or Wet Basement – An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral deposit a few inches off the floor, and will look to see if the sellers felt secure enough to store things right on the basement floor (if the home is still occupied). It could cost you $200 - $1,000 to seal a crack in or around the basement foundation depending on severity and location. Adding a sump pump and pit could run you around $750 - $1,000, and complete waterproofing (of an average 3 bedroom home) could amount to $5,000 - $15,000. You’ll have to figure these costs into the calculation of what price you want to add to your homebuying budget if you can’t negotiate with the seller to repair the problem items.

3. Inadequate Wiring and Electrical – The home you’re buying should have a minimum of 100 amps service and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper, and if aluminum wiring is present, it should be checked to see whether it’s the correct aluminum wiring or needs to be updated. Home inspectors will look to see if the sellers are using “octopus” plugs which would indicate inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.

4. Poor Heating and Cooling Systems – Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a poorly functioning heating system, are the most common causes of poor heating. While an adequately clean furnace, without rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, your inspector will be checking to see if the furnace is over its typical life span of 15-25 years. For a forced air gas system, a heat exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged – they cannot be repaired.

5. Roofing Problems – Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles (e.g., curling or splitting), or mechanical damage from a wind storm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls this external problem can indicate a major internal one.

6. Damp Attic Spaces – Aside from basement dampness, problems with ventilation, insulation and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold and mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to premature wear of the roof, structure and building materials. The cost to fix this damage could easily run over $2,500.

7. Rotting Wood – This can occur in many places (door or window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences). The building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present – especially when wood has been freshly painted.

8. Masonry – Rebricking can be costly, but left unattended these repairs can cause problems with water and moisture penetration into the home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged by fallen bricks or even a chimney which falls onto the roof. It can be costly to rebuild a chimney or to have it repointed.

9. Unsafe or Over-fused Electrical Circuit – A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on the circuit than was intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in a typical home, with larger service for large appliances such as stoves and dryers. It can cost several hundred dollars to replace an old fuse box with a circuit panel. Some circuit panels have been recalled by the manufacturer, and can be hazardous if left unreplaced.

10. Adequate Security Features – More than a purchased security system, an inspector will look for the basic safety features that will protect your home such as proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the doors, smoke and even carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom and on every level. Even though pricing will vary, these components may add to your costs if not in working order.

11. Structural/Foundation Problems – An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing and foundation of the home as structural integrity is absolutely critical.

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