Sunday, August 17, 2014

Different Kinds Of Home Inspections

By Pammy McGrath


Home inspections are a big part of the home buying process, and most of these inspections occur in the days following having your offer accepted by the sellers. The results of these inspections will let you know about any problem areas in and around the house as well as the yard. You might want to consider having several different types of home inspections.

The type of inspection that is the most typical is just known as a general home inspection. Your inspector will spend many hours going over every inch of your home from top to bottom. A good inspector will check the attic and foundation as well as the electrical systems in your house, the appliances, the plumbing, the windows, the roof and much more. They will look for evidence of settlement issues and even check outside and look at the yard drainage systems, sprinkler systems and fencing. Keep in mind that virtually every home, even a brand new home, could have a few minor issues. Even if you are purchasing a new home, it is wise to spend the money on an inspection, and it will cost anywhere from $200 to up to about $1,000 depending on the home size.

While this home inspection is very important, it certainly is not the only inspection to consider. Termites are a huge problem in many areas of the country, and pests in general can damage your home. It is wise to have a termite inspector come out and look for evidence of termite damage or droppings, as well as damage from other pests.

When you are buying a home that has fireplaces or perhaps a feature such as a swimming pool, then you should have someone come and take a look at these features. A pool inspector will look for cracks or leaks in the pool as well as looking at the filters and motors. A fireplace and chimney inspector probably is only needed if the home is older than about 25 years. With an older home, it can be wise to hire people to look for signs of lead paint, signs of asbestos and problems with plumbing and electrical systems as well as hiring a general inspector.

When you live in an area where the ground tends to be unstable or prone to seismic events, a geologist is another good person to hire. Even if earthquakes don't occur in your area, different types of soil affect the settlement of your home and if you know that the area has had a problem or two, it is wise to get an evaluation. Also if the home has many settlement cracks or floors seem to slope oddly, it can be a good idea to have an inspector take a look.

Often, your realtor can some suggest some excellent inspectors, and they also often know a variety of contractors and service people that can help with any necessary repairs. If you are getting ready to purchase real estate in Fredericksburg or any Texas Hill Country real estate, contact the experts at Nixon Real Estate today.




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