Home Inspections: What to Expect

Every homeowner understands the importance of a home inspection for both parties during the home buying process. Without a proper inspection, it can leave you vulnerable to costly repairs further down the line. Now even with an inspection, there is still the need to address the issues that are present in the relevant home. It can be difficult to prioritize when there are multiple problems that need to be addressed. Let’s take a closer look at how we can organize our response to these situations.

Problems That Must be Fixed After Inspection

There are two types of problems that are found during an inspection. Those that require immediate attention according to the law and those that do not. Believe it or not, there are several types of problems that can be uncovered during an inspection that requires the owner to address them legally before anything else can be done with the property. If you are able to narrow your issues down to these types of problems first it will go a long way in making you better organized in your response to the issues of your home.

Health and Safety Problems

One of the more common problems that are legally required to be attended to is health and safety problems. There are many problems that can endanger human life that can be found during an inspection. Some of the most common ones include mold growth, electrical wiring problems, plumbing leaks, roof damage, and more. This is not an exhaustive list but all of these problems must be fixed before anything can be done with the home.

Structural Integrity Issues

A house is like any other building. There are pieces that can tolerate a little damage without compromising the integrity of the entire home and there are other pieces that cannot do this. Any type of problem that can increase the chances of the home caving in or collapse in any way are considered issues with the home’s structural integrity and must be addressed. The inspector could classify it under these conditions if they find doors or windows that will not close or if there is anything wrong with the foundation of the home. Ultimately it will depend on what the actual problem is how to best attend it.

Code Violations

The home you are inspecting needs to have all of the proper permitting and documentation for every room of the home. Occasionally there are unscrupulous owners who will have additions added to the home without getting them approved and building them to code.

These types of problems must be rectified before it will be possible for anyone to do anything at all with the property at hand. Building codes can vary from city to city and sometimes even neighborhood to neighborhood. The codes that are specific to the property that you are interested in will depend on the locality in which it is located. Your inspector should be knowledgeable of all local codes that are applicable to the property you are considering.