When it comes to selling a home, many people always want to celebrate when they receive an offer on the home itself. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that many real estate contracts always come with a contingency involving home inspections. This provides a buyer with a variety of rights, such as requesting repairs on the home, negotiating the offer itself, and even backing out of the sale altogethe
Here are some of the most common issues that home inspectors will typically look for during a routine home inspection before a home is sold.
Electrical Issues
Since factors such as electrical issues can cause both property damage and an increased risk of injury, home inspectors will take the time to make both the current homeowner and potential buyer aware of any and all electrical issues that they may come across during their routine inspection. If something like this happens, you will want to have your real estate agent recommend a licensed electrician to take a look at the issue, which can include exposed wiring, painted outlets, reversed polarity, aluminum wiring, and more.
Insect Infestations
A home inspection also involves the inspector taking the time to search for issues related to insect infestations that may need to be taken care of before a home is sold. Marie Kitch from The Home Inspection Hub explains that home inspectors check everything from the power outlets to searching for signs of pests. In fact, insects such as termites have been known to cause extensive damage to around 600,000 homes every year in the United States, and as a result, homeowners end up spending about $5 billion annually to both control them and repair damage caused by them. Infestations of insects such as beetles, carpenter ants, and termites can cause severe damage to a home, more specifically many of the wooden areas of a home. Unfortunately, in terms of home inspections, this damage can often be discovered after it’s too late to have too much done about it, which can seriously affect the value and buyer interest of a home. In the event that an insect infestation of any kind is found, it will be the seller’s responsibility to have it exterminated, which, depending on the severity of the situation, can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars.
Water Damage
Damage caused by water can end up resulting in all sorts of serious issues, with perhaps the most common being mold growth. If something like this were to occur, the interior environment of a home can end up becoming toxic, which, in turn, can result in residents being diagnosed with serious upper respiratory conditions and having an adverse reaction on their health. Additionally, removing mold is something that can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars as well. Should a home inspector end up discovering water damage of any kind, regardless of whether it’s severe or not, you will want to contact a licensed professional in your area to investigate the issue and deal with it as soon as possible.
Structural Integrity
A home’s foundation is naturally designed to stay in one single place; however, as time goes on, the soil that the foundation itself sits on can cause the walls to expand thanks to water. As the water disappears, the soil will shrink, causing the foundation to then settle, which then results in cracks for more water to enter. Repairing and/or replacing this type of issue can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, though it depends on how severe the issue is. Furthermore, the length of time to repair a foundation can take anywhere from a few days or a few weeks. Left unfixed, it can lead to more serious issues. Some of the most common signs that a home inspector will typically look for when it comes to structural integrity include bouncy or uneven flooring, cracks in your basement walls or around the frames of doors, leaning stairs or front porch, any nails popping out of your walls, and more.
These are only a select few of the many common issues that a home inspector will look for when someone places a home up for sale. The most important thing to keep in mind is that a home inspection is something that will always need to be done when you decide to sell your home. Not only will this help to make sure that you get the best value possible, but it will also help to make sure that there are no issues inside the home that could end up leading to more serious problems for the new owner further down the line.
