Property inspections
When purchasing a new home, it is a good idea to include a property inspection condition. It gives you a chance to bring in a professional to examine the property thoroughly in order to find any defects. A lot of new buyers don’t know what to expect from this and can often be overwhelmed with the amount of items that may need fixing/proper maintenance. Here is a list of things that seem to come up in almost every inspection: (Keep in mind that most of these come up in older houses, because the current standards have since changed)
1) Grading – over time, ground will settle and erode. This can be made worse by poor landscaping, plugged eavestroughs, wind exposure, etc. This can lead to huge water problems in the future if not addressed, however it is a very easy remedy to rebuild the grade if you are aware of it.
2) Frost free hose bibs – outdoor taps that prevent freezing and burst pipes inside the house.
3) GFCI plugs – any plugs nowadays that are within arms length of sink or water supply should be a special GFCI plug which can stop the current and reduce the risk of shock.
4) Caulking – over time caulk can shrink and crack and lose its effectiveness. In heavy use areas it should be replaced every 5 to 10 years
5) Grout – same concerns as with the caulking
6) Shingles – Although the shingles may only be 5 years old, there may be areas of wear which are in much worse condition. Valleys will see the most damage, as well as areas which are missing connectors from one roof level to another lower level.
7) Hot water tank – The age can usually be found in the serial number. Most tanks are usually missing a discharge tube which should be inserted to reduce the risk of scalding should there be a malfunction.
8) Dryer venting – a lot of Dryers are vented to the exterior through a plastic tube which can be a fire hazard
9) Smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors – all newer furnaces require a carbon monoxide detector be installed. As well, a lot of smoke detectors will have dead batteries or be located in poor positions.
10) Stove venting – a lot of older stovetops are not properly vented to the exterior.
This is a list of things that will most likely come up (among many others) when completing an inspection on an older house. It is important to not become overwhelmed by the list, but to understand it is merely suggestions in order to get your house up into tip top shape. The majority of these items are cheap easy fixes that just require a little care and attention over the years.
