Signing a contract to sell your home is only half the battle. The next step is the home inspection process which can be nerve racking for both parties, especially the seller. While older homes may be more susceptible to the inspector discovering deficiencies, newer homes are not immune to home inspection issues. The list of potential home inspection issues is quite extensive, below are some of the top deficiencies unveiled in an inspection.
Most Common Home Inspection Issues
No Ground Fault Circuits
If you are buying an older home, it may not have ground fault protection in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is a must, to bring the house up to meet current electrical codes and is one of the most common home inspection issues found on older homes. From a cost standpoint, this should be fairly inexpensive, providing there is room in the electrical panel to add another breaker.
Inoperable Windows
A home inspector should open and close every window in every room of your home. If any of the windows do not function properly they will be noted on the inspection report. In many cases, repairing inoperable windows can be a simple, inexpensive repair when performed by a competent window contractor.
The inspector may also find windows that have been painted shut. This issue must be addressed, if for no other reason the safety of the occupants of the home.
You may also have double pane windows with broken seals. This will be evident if you see moisture, or clouding of your windows. In this case it’s time to call in the pros; you will likely need replacement windows.
Double-Tapped Electrical Circuit Breaker
If two wires are connected to the same circuit breaker they can come loose over time. This could become a shock hazard. To reveal this issue, the inspector will need to remove the cover of the electrical panel in your home. Again, the cost is minimal and it is a safety issues so I would fix this regardless of the sale.
Plumbing Leaks
Leaks in your plumbing could be something as minor as a leak underneath a sink or around a toilet. The fix for these is likely simple and inexpensive. On the other end of the scale, an older home could have galvanized piping which could lead to poor water pressure that is the result of corrosion inside the pipes. Replacing the pipes could be a very expensive repair.
Environmental Issues
Professional home inspectors will check for Radon, mold, lead based paints, asbestos, and other health concerns.
Faulty Gutters & Downspouts
If you have clogged gutters or downspouts, you may have bigger problems such as rotted wood in the area of the clog. You also need a splash-trough at the bottom of each downspout, or in some cases a downspout extension hose to direct water away from the home. This can be a cheap $20 fix from your local hardware store.
Contact Us:
Have more questions about common home inspection issues? Contact One Source Renovation, LLC at WindowRepairGuy.com or give us a call at (815)-634-8922.