The inspection is a crucial step in any home-buying or selling process. Before you commit to buying a home, it is important that you know the condition of the property. You as a seller should ensure that the inspection doesn’t cause any contract contingencies to lower your selling price or end the deal.

Even new homes can have issues that need to be diagnosed by an qualified Home Inspector. These are the top five residential inspection findings that we have seen in Canada, BC. They can stop home sales.

Foundation Problems

Concrete is often used to refer to the foundation, which is the lowest-weight bearing part of a building. It supports the structure of your home and acts as a barrier against moisture. Without a solid foundation, your home could sink to the ground.

The home inspector will inspect the basement and crawlspace exterior and interior for cracking and proper sealing. The inspector will also check for drainage issues and ensure that no water pools in the basement.

You can expect more problems throughout your home if the foundation inspection shows it is cracked or uneven. Untreated cracks in old foundations can cause serious problems such as:

  • Flooding basements and water ingress
  • Mold and mildew growth can be caused by water infiltration
  • Radon gas leakage through the soil
  • Pest problems such as termites and ants

Repairing a crack in the foundation can be costly. Minor crack repairs can be as low as $1,000-$5,000, but major cracks can run into the thousands. Major crack repairs can easily cost up to $50,000.

Uneven Foundation

Home foundations can shift over time due to settlement, upheaval or poor grading. Settlement occurs when soil beneath the home compresses unevenly. Upheaval is when the ground below a home absorbs water and expands, pushing one side of the foundation up higher.

Uneven foundations can cause many problems in the house.

  • Cracking the exterior and interior walls of your house
  • Door frames with warped doors that are difficult to open or close
  • Insulation gaps can be caused by window frames that are warped
  • Cabinets that are too far from the walls
  • Tilted floors
  • Safety, stability, and longevity are all declining.

It is expensive to repair an uneven foundation. The process of house leveling involves elevating the home on stilts in order to repair the foundation. This can be costly and could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000

Roof Defects

A roof will protect you from the elements and insulate your home from outside temperature changes. It also saves you money in heating and cooling.

The most important home inspection problem is roofing. While minor issues such as missing shingles or old gutters can be fixed, major problems like leakage into the attic, mildew and sagging could be discovered if the homeowner did not take proper care of their roof.

Your inspector will inspect your home in the spring or summer if it is not snowing. You should ask the seller to fix any roofing issues found by your inspector before you sign the contract. A complete roof replacement could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000.

It is important that homeowners replace leaking roofing shingles every 15 to 50 year, depending on their material. Asphalt shingles can last from 15 to 30 year depending on their grade. Wood shingles can last for around 30 years. Slate/concrete and metal roofing can last 50 to 75 years.

Water and Plumbing Problems

Home inspectors in Canada find common plumbing problems such as worn components, poor piping and poor do-it-yourself work. Plumbing problems can cause costly repairs. Most buyers will walk away if they find water damage, such as mold, mildew, rotting, or flooding.

Inspectors will look out for low water pressure, slow drainage and blocked drains.

Poly B Piping

Around 700,000.00 homes built between the 1970s and 1980s use pipes made from polybutylene (Poly B). This flexible plastic tubing material not only saves money but also slows down over time. Poly B homes eventually leak. Because Poly B pipes are difficult to access, it is possible for Poly B pipes to be replaced with PVC pipes. This can easily lead to a cost of up $20,000.

Old Septic Tanks

Homebuyers in British Columbia should be concerned about aging septic tank components. Septic tank components can fail over time and eventually leak onto your property. Repairs to a septic tank can run up to $5,000 and cause terrible odors that are likely to scare away buyers.

Wiring and Electrical Problems

The electric system of your home includes incoming power lines, wires and breakers, as well as meters and lighting.

Aluminum Wires

Many homes in Canada were built using cheap aluminum wiring, which was used instead of copper between the 1950s to 1970s. Aluminum is a soft, brittle metal which expands and contracts depending on temperature and current. Aluminum wires can lose their efficiency over time and become more susceptible to breaking, which can lead to fire hazards.

The cost of replacing aluminum wire with copper in a house is at least $10,000 (300-500 per electrical outlet). This scares many potential buyers.

DIY Renovations & Poor Contract Work

Many homeowners want to save money and have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in home improvement projects. Homebuyers don’t want to be faced with amateur work. Unbalanced circuits can overload easily, causing sparks, electrical surges and even house fires.

A home inspector will be able to tell you if the work was done by licensed contractors, and if it meets all local building codes. Inspectors will look out for signs such as sloppy wiring and wall outlets that are too high. Most buyers will prefer to walk away from a home with its electrical system behind it than do DIY work, which can often involve re-doing sections.

HVAC Appliances: Problems

The role of heating, ventilation, or air conditioning appliances is crucial in climate control and home safety. You should clean and maintain HVAC appliances at least once per year. They should be replaced every 10-25 years to prevent the buildup of mold, dust and other allergens. These include the furnace and water heater.

Home inspectors inspect your HVAC appliances to ensure proper air flow. They also clean filters and ducts.

Your home inspector could discover that the seller has neglected their maintenance for many years. This could indicate that there are other problems in the house.

A complete replacement of HVAC appliances is required if you are purchasing a home. This can cost upwards to $10,000.

Questions and Answers

What are the mandatory and optional fixes that must be made after a home inspection?

The home inspection does not require mandatory repairs. Buyers and sellers can reach an agreement with their terms, even if there are still problems. Some buyers might be willing to fix the problem themselves for a lower price. A mandatory fix would generally be any work required by the buyer to complete the home inspection in jesup. Most buyers consider water damage and mold damage mandatory.

Can you fail a home inspection?

If your buyer leaves the property after an inspection, and the sale is not completed, it can be considered a failure inspection. Sometimes, the inspector discovers so many problems that the buyer is unable to pay for repairs.

Why is it that some agents won’t allow a home inspection to be done before selling or buying a house?

Some real estate agents recommend that you don’t have a pre-listing inspection if you are selling a house. If you discover any problems, the buyer must be informed. It is possible for the buyer to discover problems by themselves, which could negatively impact your negotiations. Pre-listing inspections build trust and help you determine the true value of your home before agreeing on a price.