Buying a home is a monumental commitment and desirable lifetime investment to many people. However, inspecting the condition of the property before buying it is a wise step to take. The home inspection does not only focus on the design issues, code and curb appeal of the home but mainly on the performance of all installed systems. Before you sign the purchase deal on the dotted line of the contract, involve professional inspectors from a reputable home inspection Des Moines company to avoid costly repairs later. The following are areas that professionals inspect in a residential house on sale.
The roof is certainly the most important part of the house that any buyer inspects first. Get to the top of the roof to find out if the flashing caulk is cracked, and if there is a single missing or broken shingles. You will need to replace the rubber boots that protect vent pipes if they are cracked. Lichens and moss growth on the roof indicate that the underside of the roof is decaying.
The basement is another area property buyers should keenly inspect. Damp or moist basements usually produce musty and unpleasant odor easy to sniff. A damp basement indicates that water could be leaking from the floor or the ceiling. You will also know the basement is leaking once you find cracks on the basement wall or if the exposed wood beam is rotten. The basement may be damp due to precipitation, hydrostatic pressure or groundwater.
Another important sign of water leakage you should inspect is mold growth in the basement. Molds are easy to identify because of their disgusting odor and awful look. Molds are fond of growing in the dampest and darkest areas in the house. If they are not identified and controlled in good time, they deteriorate the beauty and value of the house on sale and pose health problems to the occupants.
Make sure the air conditioners in the new house are working properly and are in good condition. If the former occupant did not take good care of the air conditioners, their ductwork would be defective. Most air conditioners become defective as a result of torn flex ducts, metal dents, peeling duct tape, loose seam fittings and dirt streaks. If the air conditioning unit shows flickering orange or yellowish flame, check its combustion system. Besides, you should check if there are shrubs, leaves, dust, dirt and pet hair in the thermostats, condenser unit fins and grills of the HVAC.
Check for electrical malfunctions especially if the residential house you are buying is not new. Any weird odor or sparking from the breaker panel, fuse box or any other power point indicates electrical problems. You should not occupy the house before the naked extension wires are coated and the hot switch plates and outlets covered. Ensure there are no tripped breakers, blown fuses, black switches, hot plugs and sockets fitted into the skirting boards.
Walk into the kitchen, toilet and bathroom to assess the condition of the plumbing system. For instance, low water pressure is a common plumbing problem in sinks with calcium deposit buildup. Find out if the sinks and tubs are draining properly or if they need to be unclogged. Finally, check if the faucets are leaky and if the toilet is running or clogged.
Occupying a house with faulty systems and appliances will cost you more in repair work and replacement. Ensuring fireplaces and electric systems are in good condition keep your family members safe from life-threatening incidences. Moreover, inspecting the house before occupying it reduces the occurrence of respiratory and asthmatic problems.
The roof is certainly the most important part of the house that any buyer inspects first. Get to the top of the roof to find out if the flashing caulk is cracked, and if there is a single missing or broken shingles. You will need to replace the rubber boots that protect vent pipes if they are cracked. Lichens and moss growth on the roof indicate that the underside of the roof is decaying.
The basement is another area property buyers should keenly inspect. Damp or moist basements usually produce musty and unpleasant odor easy to sniff. A damp basement indicates that water could be leaking from the floor or the ceiling. You will also know the basement is leaking once you find cracks on the basement wall or if the exposed wood beam is rotten. The basement may be damp due to precipitation, hydrostatic pressure or groundwater.
Another important sign of water leakage you should inspect is mold growth in the basement. Molds are easy to identify because of their disgusting odor and awful look. Molds are fond of growing in the dampest and darkest areas in the house. If they are not identified and controlled in good time, they deteriorate the beauty and value of the house on sale and pose health problems to the occupants.
Make sure the air conditioners in the new house are working properly and are in good condition. If the former occupant did not take good care of the air conditioners, their ductwork would be defective. Most air conditioners become defective as a result of torn flex ducts, metal dents, peeling duct tape, loose seam fittings and dirt streaks. If the air conditioning unit shows flickering orange or yellowish flame, check its combustion system. Besides, you should check if there are shrubs, leaves, dust, dirt and pet hair in the thermostats, condenser unit fins and grills of the HVAC.
Check for electrical malfunctions especially if the residential house you are buying is not new. Any weird odor or sparking from the breaker panel, fuse box or any other power point indicates electrical problems. You should not occupy the house before the naked extension wires are coated and the hot switch plates and outlets covered. Ensure there are no tripped breakers, blown fuses, black switches, hot plugs and sockets fitted into the skirting boards.
Walk into the kitchen, toilet and bathroom to assess the condition of the plumbing system. For instance, low water pressure is a common plumbing problem in sinks with calcium deposit buildup. Find out if the sinks and tubs are draining properly or if they need to be unclogged. Finally, check if the faucets are leaky and if the toilet is running or clogged.
Occupying a house with faulty systems and appliances will cost you more in repair work and replacement. Ensuring fireplaces and electric systems are in good condition keep your family members safe from life-threatening incidences. Moreover, inspecting the house before occupying it reduces the occurrence of respiratory and asthmatic problems.
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If you urgently need to arrange for home inspection Des Moines company is the right source of contact. Visit this page now and schedule a date via http://www.prositehomeinspections.com.
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