Manassas Home Inspector Greg Caudill, owner of Home Review, Inc., offers both residential and commercial inspections in Northern Virginia.
Everything looks prettier in the spring, and so, traditionally, home sales shift into high gear just about the same time as the daffodils start to bloom. But homebuyers should be careful not to be taken in by a pretty face in the form of a fresh coat of paint or a new azalea bush. Since no home is perfect, homebuyers would be wise to learn where and how to look beyond the cosmetics for possible signs of problems with their prospective purchase. Failure to do so before they buy could mean any number of unpleasant surprises after the move. Experts recommend hiring and accompanying a professional home inspector on a pre-purchase examination of the home’s structural and mechanical condition. While this won’t guarantee a perfect home or even that problems won’t develop sometime in the future, it will greatly reduce the risk, and it will provide a valuable education in the process.
A recent survey of its members, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) compiled a list of the most frequently found problems in homes. It is significant that within this list of ten problem categories, at least four are directly related to the damaging effects of water. Apparently, keeping water out, after a home is built, is the homeowner’s most important and continually challenging task.
It should be noted that this list represents a national average. Regional climates, building codes and the age of a home played a significant role in the ASHI findings.
1. Improper Surface Grading/Drainage
This by far the most frequently found problem as reported by 35% of home inspectors surveyed. It is responsible for the most common of household maladies: water penetration of the basement or crawlspace. The most effective remedies for wet basements include regrading the ground away from the house and repairing or installing a new system of roof gutters and downspouts.
2. Improper Electrical Wiring
A significant number (19%) chose this item as the most common home defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical service to the house, inadequate overload protection, amateur and often dangerous wiring connections. Some home inspectors say that 70-80% of the electrical wiring they see is done wrong, and that most of it is attributable to do-it-yourselfers. This is a serious safety hazard, not just a cosmetic defect.
3. Roof Drainage
Although reported by only 8.5% of home inspectors as the most common problem, roof leakage caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing, was considered a frequent problem. Shingle repairs can be easily and inexpensively done, but shingles near the end of their useful life may mean a major re-roofing expense.
4. Heating Systems (health and safety hazards)
Problems in this category include broken or malfunctioning operating controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal. These conditions represent more than simply inefficient heating; they are health and safety hazards. Heating systems should be serviced and maintained annually by a professional, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Americans take better care of their cars than they do their homes. Cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, broken fixtures or appliances are common issues faced by home inspectors. Although some of these problems may seem cosmetic than serious, they affect the overall lack of care which has been given to the home. Often these are clues to more serious problems or needed repairs.
Manassas Home Inspector Greg Caudill, owner of Home Review, Inc., realizes that buying a home represents major financial and emotional decisions. Greg understands the time and effort that goes into finding your “home sweet home” and recognize that every buyer wants to feel confident that they are making a wise purchase decision. Call Greg at 703-330-6696.