310 Views

Introduction

According to Mark Roemer Oakland, getting a professional to inspect your home before purchasing it is something you should never avoid. The small amount of money you save by skimping on home inspection may come back to bite off hundreds of thousands of dollars from you in the future. Let’s check out the importance of a pre-purchase house inspection.

The Explanation

  1. Termites – Termites are always hidden in any home. They don’t usually come out and walk on the floor or walls like an ant colony. You need to put in a lot of effort to figure out where they are hidden. From moisture readings and thermal imaging to tapping or timber testing, a lot of equipment and training are required to find hidden pests. A regular home inspection usually covers that and saves you the trouble of buying an infested home.
  1. Plot of land – During a house inspection, professionals also check the plot of land the home is built on. They check for elevations and slopes and potential drainage issues that may arise if drainage is inadequate or hasn’t been installed properly. Inspectors go under the house to check the dampness of the soil. Water flowing under a home can weaken the foundations and also makes the home more susceptible to termites. The same holds for paths around the home.
  1. External walls – If the home has external masonry walls, house inspectors would also check for step cracks through the mortar and large visible cracks. They will use equipment to figure out if the wall is straight and even and check the lower walls for mortar decay or brick fretting. Usually, old weatherboard homes have some bowing and the extent of that will help you decide if you want to negotiate for a lower price or just walk away from that home.
  1. Internal leaks – Visible leaks in a home are red flags. However, you also need to be careful about internal leaks and that’s where home inspectors come in. They are very familiar with the symptoms of internal leaks and would also use all kinds of equipment to figure out the location of internal leaks in a home. A home with internal leaks may have many problems that may balloon into very expensive repairs in the future.
  1. Safety issues – Home inspectors also check the foundation of the home, the roof, floors, patio, and all other places for structural problems. You don’t want to move into a home that may collapse or be exposed to severe damage. Home inspectors would also check the underlying cables, duct work, electrical switches, and other such components for any safety issues.

Conclusion

Mark Roemer Oakland suggests that you hire a reputable home inspection agency before you go through the purchase. They can point out underlying problems that aren’t apparent and their assessment can help you figure out if the necessary repairs and re-work are worth the price or at least give you more negotiating power for the purchase.