Once you go under contract on a house, you generally have a set period of time to get a house inspection. That’s often 10 or 14 days, but it can vary. Make sure you see what you’re agreeing to when you sign the contract, so you don’t get caught unaware. If you miss the inspection window, you may have to purchase the house without a home inspection, which could put you at risk of major defects with the property. Another thing you should be aware of is that there are always unexpected issues with an inspection. The more prepared you are, the better. With a good house inspection checklist, you can expect the unexpected and get through your inspection more easily.
Are you ready for that old wiring?
If you’re buying an old house, the chances are high that it has some old wiring, too. Most older homes haven’t been completely rewired, but some have a few newer circuits or at least an upgraded electrical panel. The newer wiring is a good thing, but the older wiring can be a risk. You should be prepared for the possibility of higher insurance premiums because of older wiring, and want to consider having the house rewired at some point in the future. While it can be expensive, it’s also an important way to make things safer for you and your family. Your inspector can tell you if there’s any obvious, immediate danger from the current wiring.
What did the seller pour down the drain?
To be sure you’re buying the right house, your inspector will test all the systems. That includes the plumbing, and a slow drain could mean a number of things. Sometimes people pour grease, paint, or other problem substances down their home’s drains, instead of disposing of them in other ways. If that has happened in the home you’re about to buy, it could be difficult for you to get the drains to work properly without some intervention. A good home inspection will help you decide how much of a problem those drains might be, and whether you want to ask the seller to fix them before agreeing to buy the house.
Is there a mystery in the attic?
Whether you decide to purchase a home probably won’t depend on what the seller might have left behind, but don’t be surprised to find some things. Sellers can forget items, especially in attics and basements. In some cases, they might even deliberately leave things they don’t want, so they don’t have to dispose of them. That can be good news for you if it’s something you want, but often it’s not anything worth keeping. Just be expecting the chance of that mystery box in the back corner of the attic, which could be filled with all kinds of unique things. There’s generally always a story in there.
Was something buried in the yard?
It’s very important that you get a home inspection, to make sure the home you’re buying is going to be safe and secure for you. That home inspection doesn’t generally include the yard, unless there’s an obvious reason to investigate further. For example, you can pay to have a home inspector use a camera in the drains, so you can see if there are blockages, tree roots, and other issues. You may also want to check out whether there is or was an oil tank on the property. Some older homes in cold climates used oil heating, and the oil tank may still be there. If it’s leaking, that could be an expensive environmental hazard that you don’t want to deal with.
What’s that puddle in the basement?
Water in the basement could be a big issue, or it might not be anything serious at all. It could have come from the nearby water heater, or the hookup for the washer. It might have also come from a leaking foundation. It’s important you find out which is accurate for the house you’re looking to buy, since what’s causing the water will help your inspector determine how serious of an issue it actually is. Most cases of water in the basement can be traced to something obvious and then corrected, but you definitely need to know about it before you buy the house.
Are there really bats in the attic?
If you’re getting a mortgage, your lender may want you to have a home inspection in order to help protect their interest in the property. Even if they don’t require it, inspecting the structure and determining if there are any serious pest problems is important. If you have rodents in the walls or bats in the attic, for example, those are things that definitely should be handled right away, provided you still want to purchase the home. Left alone, pests become an even bigger problem over time.
Did the seller get a permit for that?
The seller might have done some work on the house themselves. That’s generally not a big problem, except they probably didn’t get a permit. That means anything the seller did wasn’t inspected, so you don’t know if it’s right. If it was something like electrical, not having it checked out when it was done could be a big problem. Be prepared to do some work on the house after closing, to make sure you bring everything up to code.
2 Point Highlight
It’s very important that you get a home inspection, to make sure the home you’re buying is going to be safe and secure for you.
If you’re getting a mortgage, your lender may want you to have a home inspection in order to help protect their interest in the property.
