A home inspection is a necessity before buying a home. You must inspect the house before moving in. Do not rent a house at face value looking. There are some things to consider when renting an apartment or house, which will prevent you from making decisions that will cost you a lot in the long run.
Despite carrying out home inspections, people still end up making mistakes. This usually happens when you allow some things to slip past you during the inspection. There are a few warning signs to look out for during the home inspection. To help you out during your inspection, here is a checklist of things to look out for during home inspections
Insects and Pests That Wreck Wood
A lot of people do not lookout for this. It is one of the most overlooked aspects of home inspection. Do not get carried away by looking at the beauty or aesthetics of the house alone. Insects and wood-eating pests eat wood over a long period and weaken the core of the house, and this leaves the house unsafe. Insects such as termites, carpenter ants and boring ants. These insects eat away the house’s value long-term, so you have to be proactive when conducting your home inspection.
It’s essential to work with a real estate company that has experience looking out for these insects and organisms during a home examination. On your part, you should devote some time to finding out the things that attract these pests to homes. In some cases, you might not see the pests but spot the signs of looking or being infested.
For termites, you should be on the lookout for piles of termite frass and termite sanctum tubes in or around the home. It would be best to keep an eye out for sagging bottoms and concave wood.
Bad Roof
The roof condition of a house should be a deal-breaker because it’s designed to cover the house from natural rudiments. Don’t neglect the inspection of the roof of a house for any reason. Look for holes or broken area
Be sure to confirm that the roof has been duly installed. In a case where there are any problems with the roof, this should be detected at the stage of examining the house.
In some cases, the roof might have been duly installed yet end up discovering it’s riddled with wear patterns.
Water Challenges
Does the idea of living in a house on the water appeal to you? It should accept that you’re hydrophobic and love having water around you. Still, having open water in your house can be a form of disaster. As bad as this might sound, it’s indeed worse in a situation where the water is unseen.
The peril of having water in your house is that it ends up destroying your apartment. This is why it’s important to check for any signs of water intrusion into the house.
Ensure that the real estate agent you’re working with has a good eye for spotting signs of water intrusion in a house. He/ she should immaculately know where to look during the inspection. However, this should be spotted during a home examination, If there have been former signs of water entry into the home.
Still, this is a commodity you want to know If a house is prone to flooding because of its position. Nigeria has witnessed several cases of deluge destroying property and valuables.
Faulty Wiring
The fact that wall sockets in a house look enough guarantees nothing. Remember that defective electrical wiring remains one of the major causes of fires in domestic homes.
You should pay close attention to the number of electrical outlets in several apartments in the house. However, you’ll find yourself demanding multiple extension boxes, If they’re too many. You shouldn’t indeed consider this option if you intend to have toddlers and children living with you.
Exposed cables stand out as another red flag. They increase the threat of electrocution. You should check the house with an electrical mastermind to put yourself on the safe side.
Final Advice on Home Inspection
Before you buy a house, insist on carrying out a thorough home inspection. However, that alone should be considered a red flag, If the property proprietor refuses to allow this or appears reticent to recognize this request.
A home inspection should no way be done in a hurry. You’re entitled to a reasonable quantum of time to check the property before you make a decision. Examining a property doesn’t mean you have to buy it. After the examination, you can decide whether you’re buying or moving forward.
