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Schedule
Tests and Inspections to Verify Property Condition
What
Your Inspection Should Cover
10
Most Common Home Defects
10
Questions to Ask a Home Inspector
What
Your Inspection Should Cover
Siding:
Look for dents or buckling
Foundations:
Look for cracks or water seepage
Exterior Brick:
Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks
Insulation:
Look for condition, adequate rating for climate (the higher
the R value, the more effective the insulation is)
Doors and Windows:
Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition
of weatherstripping
Roof:
Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled
shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts
Ceilings, walls,
and moldings:
Look for loose pieces, dry wall that is pulling away.
Porch/Deck:
Loose railings or step, rot
Electrical:
Look for condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of
outlets in each room
Plumbing:
Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or
corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation
Water Heater:
Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery,
energy rating.
Furnace/Air Conditioning:
Look for age, energy rating. Furnaces are rated by annual
fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the
lower your fuel costs. However, other factors such as
payback period and other operating costs, such as
electricity to operate motors.
Garage:
Look for exterior in good repair; condition of
floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.
Basement:
Look for water leakage, musty smell.
Attic:
Look for adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof.
Septic Tanks (if
applicable):
Adequate absorption field capacity for the percolation rate
in your area and the size of your family.
Driveways/Sidewalks:
Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges,
stains.
Source:
National Association of REALTORS®
10
Most Common Home Defects
10
Questions to Ask a Home Inspector
1.
What are your qualifications? Are you a member of the
American Society of Home Inspectors or National Association
of Home Inspectors?
2. Do you have a current license? Inspectors are not
required to be licensed in
every state.
3. How many inspections of properties such as this do you do
each year?
4. Do you have a list of past clients I can contact?
5. Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance?
May I have a copy of the policy?
6. Do you provide any guarantees of your work?
7. What specifically will the inspection cover?
8.
What type of report will I receive after the inspection?
9. How long will the inspection take and how long will it
take to receive the report?
10. How much will the inspection cost?
Source: National Association of REALTORS®
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