You Can Leave the Home After an Inspection
The inspection is a crucial step in buying or selling a house. You should be aware of any defects in the house before you commit to buying it. You should also check that the inspection will not trigger contract clauses that could lower your price or even kill the deal.
A qualified home inspector in Haines City can diagnose problems in newly constructed homes. These are the top five residential inspection findings that have stopped home sales.
1. Foundation problems
The foundation is the lowest part of a structure that bears weight. It’s usually made out of concrete. The foundation supports the whole structure of your home and acts as a barrier to water. It also helps prevent dangerous soil vapors such as radon seeping into the house. Your home could literally sink into the earth without a solid foundation.
The inspector will inspect the crawlspace and basement from both the interior and exterior to check for cracks and sealant. The inspector should check the drainage of the property and ensure that there is no water pooling in the basement.
You can expect worse problems throughout your home if the foundation has been found to be badly cracked or uneven. Untreated cracks in old foundations can cause serious problems such as:
- Basement flooding and water infiltration
- Mold and mildew growth caused by water infiltration
- Radon gas leaking from the soil
- Ants & termites are pests that can cause problems.
Repairing a foundation crack can be a major deal breaker. Repairing minor cracks usually costs between $1,000 and $5,000. However, major cracks may cost as much as $50,000.
Uneven Foundation
Home foundations may move over time due to settlement, upheaval or poor grading. Settlement occurs when soil beneath a house compresses unevenly, causing the foundation to move. When the soil beneath a house absorbs moisture, it expands and pushes one side higher than the other.
Uneven foundations can cause problems in the entire house.
- Cracks on the exterior and interior of your home
- Door frames with warps that make it difficult to open
- Insulation gaps caused by warped window frames
- Cabinets that lean back from walls
- Floors that tilt
- Overall stability, longevity and safety decreased
It is expensive to repair an uneven foundation. The cost of house leveling can range from $5,000 to $20,000.
2. Roof Defects
Roofs protect you from the weather, help insulate your home and can save you money in the long-term on heating and cooling.
Roofs are one of the biggest deal-breakers in a home inspection. Missing shingles, old gutters, and other minor issues can be easily resolved. However, if the roof was not properly maintained by the previous owner, you may find major problems such as mildew and rotting wood.
After the snow has melted, your inspector will come back to inspect the roof. You should ask the seller to fix any roof problems that your inspector discovers before closing the deal. Roof replacements can range from $10,000 to $50,000.
The homeowner should replace shingles that are worn and leaky at least every 15-50 years depending on the type of material. Wood shingles and asphalt shingles have a lifespan of 15-30 years depending on their grade. Slate/concrete/metal roofing can last up to 75 years.
3. Plumbing and water issues
Home inspectors in Canada often find plumbing problems caused by worn-out components, cheap piping and poor DIY work. Plumbing problems can result in expensive repairs. Most buyers will not buy a home if the inspection shows water damage such as mold and mildew, rotting or sagging.
Inspectors are looking for plumbing red flags such as low water pressure and slow drainage. They also look out for sewer odors.
Poly B Piping
Around 700,000.00 Canadian homes were built in the 70s and 80s with polybutylene pipes (Poly B), which is a flexible plastic tube material that can save money for builders, but degrades with time. Poly B-built homes eventually leak. Replacement of Poly B pipes with PVC pipes is expensive, as they are difficult to access.
Old Septic Tanks
Homebuyers in British Columbia are concerned about aging septic systems. Septic tanks can fail over time due to wear and tears, eventually leaking onto a property. Repairs can be costly, resulting in unpleasant smells and scaring away buyers.
4. Electricity & Wiring Issues
Electric systems in your home include the electrical panel, metering, incoming power wires, breakers and lighting.
Aluminum Wires
Many Canadian homes between the 1950s to 1970s were constructed with aluminum wiring because it was cheaper than copper. Aluminum is a soft, brittle metal which expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature or electrical current. Aluminum wires become less efficient and prone to breaking over time. This is a fire hazard.
The cost of replacing aluminum wire in a home with copper is at least $10,000 (between $300 and $500 per outlet). This price tag scares away many potential buyers.
Do-it-yourself Renovations & Poor Contract Work
Many homeowners today are keen to learn and save money by tackling their own home improvement projects. You never want to see amateur work as a buyer. Unbalanced circuits are prone to overload, resulting in sparks, surges and fires.
A home inspector will be able to tell you if the renovations were done by licensed contractors, and if they met all local building codes. Inspectors are looking for red flags such as sloppy wiring and wall outlets that have been installed at an uneven height. They also look out for double-tapped circuit breakers. Most electrical systems in a house are hidden behind walls. This means that most buyers prefer to walk away rather than repair DIY electrical work, which can often involve redoing sections or drywall.
5. HVAC Appliances: Common Problems
All HVAC appliances play an important role in maintaining air-quality and ensuring home safety. You should clean your HVAC appliances every year and replace them completely after 10 to 25. This will prevent the accumulation of mold, dust and allergens. Included in this list are the furnace, water heater or tank, and air conditioner.
Home inspectors will check for proper airflow, clean your filters and ducts, as well as look for water damage nearby that may have been caused from faulty appliances.
If you discover that the seller neglected their maintenance for many years, this could indicate that there are problems in other areas of the home.
A full replacement and installation can cost upwards of $10,000.
