The Need For Home Inspection in Real Estate Selling

The last thing that you want to happen when selling your real estate property is encounter complications and incidents that will affect the transaction in a negative manner. The good news is that there are simple things that you can do to make sure that these things do not happen during the settlement process. One of the key elements in as far as effective real estate selling is concerned is the proper appreciation and conduct of a comprehensive home inspection. A critical part of the task is the clear understanding of the key elements of home inspection.

Major Issues Involving Building Integrity

1. Termite Damage and Infestation

This is one type of damage to real estate properties that you don’t want to lose control of. Termite infestation is a reality that you have to face when you have untreated pine. These dreaded pests are capable of literally turning to dust the wooden structure of your dream home in just a matter of months. A reliable home inspection activity must be able to check spots and places in the home for termite trails. Specifically, the home inspection report must provide data and information about any structural timber that may have been affected by termite infestation from the floor joists to ceiling supports.

2. Proper Settling of the Home Foundation

This is a critical structural issue that must be properly noted in the home inspection written report. Both hairline and structural cracks may develop and affect slab foundations as the ground becomes wetter or gradually dries over time. Structural and cosmetic repair to correct these structural anomalies must be properly reflected in the written report. One of the more serious issues that you must be concerned with is your possible liability in instances where plaster and masonry fall as a result of cracks and problems in the lathe and plaster.

It is also crucial to check for possible damages and structural issues affecting the main line within the interior as well as the exterior part of the building structure. The major cause of these problems is the movement of the building structure. This is not a common problem to gas and electricity utilities though you may have to thoroughly inspect PVC pipes as these materials can develop fractures even with the slightest shift of the building structure.

3. Short-Cuts in the Construction Process

This may be perceived by some to be a bit too critical about the home inspection process. However, we have to emphasize the need for us to meet the minimum standards such as the width of mortar joints for bricks. Your failure to comply with the required norm can seriously affect the structural integrity of the building structure. Other structural issues that we have to contend with are the buckling of floors and the use of uncured or untreated wooden components in portions of the structure where down-pipes are installed.

4. Problems in the Plumbing System and Septic System

It is extremely important that you check the plumbing system of your real estate property prior to home inspection. The inspection activity will involve the opening of multiple faucets simultaneously to check water pressure. The septic system will also be inspected for possible drainage problems. Inspection of the septic system is usually done with the use of dye. The presence of the dye material above the septic drain field is an indication of a drainage problem.

5. Unsafe and Inadequate Electrical Systems

The configuration of your circuit breaker and electrical panel must meet the minimum safety standards required for your home. The home inspection activity shall cover the receptacles found in the kitchen and bathroom that contain the safety circuit breaker for system overload and short circuit. The written report will confirm the presence of such receptacles and not the inferior “work-around” handiworks which are usually not wired properly.

The Need For Home Inspection in Real Estate Selling