The premier source for home inspector news and information. Whether you're a homebuyer or a licensed home inspector, you'll find valuable insight on the world of home inspection training and competency on this blog.
Interested in pursing a home inspection career? According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), there are a number of ways a home inspector can diversify their services.
For example, a home inspector can offer a variety of inspections, such as termite, swimming pool and spa, well and septic system, and home maintenance. Troubleshooting inspections for homes with problems, prelisting inspections for homes about to be sold, and inspections of new homes throughout the construction process or at the pre-delivery stage can also be offered.
Additionally, some inspectors do radon, lead, asbestos, and carbon monoxide testing; mold inspections; and inspections of commercial buildings. There are many opportunities to offer a full range of services to consumers.
Source: homeinspector.com
Foundation
The foundation is probably the main priority, since it's the component that bears the load of the entire home. Foundation failure or repairs can be especially expensive, and parts of it may be hidden. So, looking at the foundation is a time to do your best.
Wall Coverings
The wall coverings often provide clues to any foundation movement. Soil or foundation movement typically shows up as diagonal cracks emanating from the corners of doors and windows. You may also see stepped cracking in masonry walls, especially near exterior corners or below windows.
Roof
The roofs of older homes are typically wood shakes or shingles. Some jurisdictions no longer allow the installation of wood roofs. This may create a conflict with a landmark committee.
If the roof will need replacement soon, the owner may be facing not just removal of existing layers, but installation of solid roof sheathing over the original spaced sheathing that was typically installed with wood roofs. You should make your clients aware of the potential extra cost.
Structure
Older homes may have undergone work by someone not familiar with acceptable building practices. Although it's often difficult to see floor and wall framing, watch for problems such as the structure being out of plumb, out of level, or not flat.
You may see work done that employed methods quite different from modern methods. Check for failure before calling something a defect just because it looks different.
Exterior
You may want to recommend a lead test of the soil of the home's perimeter. When lead was used as an ingredient in the manufacture of paint, the exterior paint coating would eventually oxidize, and a lead powder would form on the surface, ultimately washing into the soil around the home's exterior by the rain. Over time, lead can accumulate in the soil to a level at which it represents a health risk to children and pets.
Windows
It's often difficult to tell whether a window is original, and it's a question that's often asked. Your concern as an inspector is to describe the window's condition. You'll be looking for failure of the finish coating and decay on wood-frame windows, especially in the corners of the sill. You'll be checking for hardware condition, and proper operation of the hardware and window itself. Single panes are not a defect.
Electrical Systems
In inspecting an older home, you may find that the electrical system is original, that it's new, or that it has had work done on it over the years. It's not unusual to find electrical components from multiple eras in one home. They may all be energized, or they may be partially energized.
Most inspectors, when they're confronted with these older systems, recommend a specialist inspection by a qualified electrical contractor. The liability connected with electrical systems is high, since these can burn down the home or cause serious or fatal injury. It's better to pass on this liability unless you feel very confident in your own expertise.
Plumbing Systems
You'll be looking for evidence of plumbing leaks, as usual. There are still a few homes around with galvanized supply pipes, so you'll check for functional flow at fixtures. Also, you should mention any unsafe conditions, such as missing or obsolete traps. In the past, lead distribution pipes have been a problem, but very few currently exist.
Heating Systems
Serious problems can develop from poorly understood venting of furnaces, boilers and water heaters. Condensation is one problem. Water is a solvent and will deteriorate many materials.
Toxic Materials
You may encounter toxic materials when inspecting older homes. Watch for asbestos-like material on heating system exhaust ducts. Asbestos was also used in vinyl products, such as flooring, and in the process of manufacturing roofing tiles. The amount of asbestos in thermal insulation has been exaggerated, but most thermal insulation releases particulates into the air when it's disturbed, so you should wear a respirator in attics and crawlspaces where you may encounter exposure
Source: www.nachi.com
Fact #1 - A home inspector will pinpoint any current or potential problems, but will not fix them.
A home inspector will never fix any problems in a home. The inspector's only job is to diagnose any existing or potential problems and provide the buyers with a written report about those problems. Of course, the buyer can use this as a negotiation tool with the sellers, but shouldn't expect any repairs to be made by the home inspector.
Fact #2 - The home inspection will address only structural issues, not cosmetic ones.
When it comes to scrapes and scratches, buyers are on their own. These are considered cosmetic issues and not included with the home inspection. Offbeat paint colors, nicks in the wall and stained carpet, while visually unappealing, have nothing to do with the condition of the home.
Fact #3 - It is unethical for a seller to conceal any problems within the house.
Real estate professionals advise sellers not to try to conceal problems with the house. The ethical and legal thing is for them to let the buyer know about any structural problems. Plus, a home inspector will most likely uncover these problems when the inspection is done.
Fact #4 - Sellers should fix any major problems before a home inspection.
It is often a good idea for home sellers to fix any major problems before a house is put on the market. If they're left incomplete, it can lead to a negative home inspection and mean losing money on the home sale.
Fact #5 - The home inspection may not cover everything.
The scope and size of the home inspection depends on the type of contract the buyer has with the seller. A typical home inspection includes the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects of a house. There may be extra services provided as well, such as radon testing or mold detection.
Fact #6 - Everything should work as it was intended - everything doesn't have to be new and of the latest technology.
Your job is to make sure that everything is in working order and doesn't require repairs. Of course a home buyer would like everything new and up-to-date, but that isn't within the scope of a home inspector's job. The house just needs to be in sound condition – the age is not relevant, unless the home is 100+ years old.
Labels: home inspection, home inspector
Once you become a home inspector, your expertise may be called upon for more than deciphering the overall condition of real property. For example, if you live in a geographic region that's susceptible to annual hurricanes and tropical storms, you can help homeowners ensure their home is ready.
According to www.StormExpo2010.com, here are some important home inspection tips to consider for the exterior of a home:
Gutters & Shutters
Ensure gutters and shutters are firmly fastened to the structure.
Doors
Check the condition of the hardware on all doors. Adding deadbolts (top and bottom) to each door leaf can help prevent it from blowing outward or inward during a storm.
Trees
All overgrown trees should be trimmed down. Also, use the bark for ground cover, which is safer than gravel in the event of a storm.
Miscellaneous Outdoor Items
Is there a family of ceramic garden gnomes in the yard? Cute to some, but during a storm, items such as lawn decorations can break windows and cause additional, unnecessary damage to a home. Other items to consider include patio furniture and satellite dishes.
Garage
Is the home's garage made of hurricane resistant panels? If not, vertical support bars can be firmly screwed into the door ribs. You will also need to anchor in the bars at the top and bottom.
Turbines (roof)
Homeowners should buy caps for their home's roof turbines. When a storm hits, the turbines can be removed and replaced by the caps. Why? Because when winds hit 100 miles per hour or more, the turbines can blow off, leaving holes in the roof where rain and wind will enter the attic.
Once you become a home inspector, there are certain home hazards that you will learn to immediately identify as major red flags. And some of these hazards are so bad, they can make a homeowner sick. Here are the five most dangerous that every professional home inspector needs to know:
1. Lead
a toxic metal used in home products for many years that can contribute to several health problems, especially among children. Exposure can occur from deteriorating lead-based paint, pipes, or lead-contaminated dust or soil.
How to Identify: Homes built prior to 1978 may have lead present. Look for peeling paint and check old pipes. To get a HUD-insured loan, buyers must show a certificate that homes built prior to 1978 are lead-safe.
2. Radon
A colorless, odorless gas that can seep into the home from the ground. Radon has been called the second most common cause of lung cancer.
How to Identify: Basements or anything with protrusion into the ground offer entry points for radon. The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a map of high prevalence areas for radon. A radon test can determine if high levels of radon are present.
3. Asbestos
A fibrous material once popular in building materials because it provides heat insulation and fire resistance. But asbestos was banned in 1985. It may still be found in older home's insulation materials, floor tiles, roof coverings, and siding. If disturbed or damaged, it can enter the air and cause severe illness.
How to Identify: Homes built prior to 1985 are at risk of having asbestos within construction materials. Home owners should especially be careful when remodeling because disturbing insulation may cause the asbestos to become airborne.
4. Hazardous Products
Stockpiles of hazardous household items - such as paint solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, or motor oils - that can create a dangerous situation if not properly stored or disposed. They can cause illness or even death if small amounts are ingested.
What to look for: Make sure these items aren't tucked away in corners, crawl spaces, garages, or garden sheds. Home owners often don't realize these products can pose a danger and may forget they're storing them. But buyers don't want it to become their problem - and expense - to dispose of. If these products are found, make sure the buyer requires their removal and gets a disposal certificate prior to closing, which proves the products were disposed of properly and not just dumped in the backyard.
5. Groundwater Contamination
The result of hazardous chemicals that are illegally disposed of and then seep through the soil and enter water supplies. A leaking underground oil tank or faulty septic system can contribute to this.
How to Identify: Look for any conditions that may be conducive to leakage. Homes near light industrial areas or facilities may be at risk. Also a concern: areas once used for industry that are now residential. Pillar to Post offers a Neighborhood Environmental Report that details any dangers or remedies of environmental incidences and sources of contamination that have occurred at a specified address and within its vicinity.
Source: Realtor.org/Pillar to Post
In your professional home inspection career, here are some questions you should always answer when you perform a home inspection.
1. Does the house have poor drainage?
2. Does the house have faulty wiring?
3. Does the roof leak?
4. Does the house have minor structural damage?
5. Has the whole house been poorly maintained?
6. Does the house have an unsafe heating system?
7. Does the house have plumbing problems?
8. Does the house's exterior let in water and air around windows and doors?
9. Is the house inadequately ventilated?
10. Does the house present an environmental hazard?
(Source: MSN Real Estate)
1) Ask for referrals: Talk to your relatives, friends or local real estate agents about possible home inspectors. If they hired a home inspector and were happy with the service, they can provide you with the name and contact information. Try to gather two or three referrals.
2) Interview the home inspectors: Ask questions to learn about the home inspectors on your list. Find out about their education, years of experience, number of inspections they've performed and insurance coverage. Also, do they participate in continuing education or stay up-to-date on current laws and building codes? Lastly, ask for a list of references.
3) Determine the inspection cost: Ask the home inspectors how much they would charge for an inspection and what areas of the house it includes. The cost can vary based on the region, size of the house and scope of the services.
4) Make sure you are welcome at the inspection: If the home inspector or real estate agent discourages you from attending the inspection, consider it a red flag. This is a unique, one-of-a-kind opportunity to see your new home through the eyes of an expert. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to adequately maintain your home and be aware of any potential problems.
5) Get the home inspection report in writing: Don't accept the home inspector's word about the condition of the home. Ensure that he or she will provide you with a comprehensive, hardcopy report. The report should be included as part of the home inspection and covered by your inspection fee. Additionally, a detailed report can provide a legal basis later should any problems arise that went undetected at the time of inspection.
(Source: The Lawrence Journal-World)
