There is so much to think about when buying a new home. Property taxes, the school district, distance and time for your daily commute, and proximity to what matters most to you all play a major role in deciding on what home to buy. However, before you buy any home, it will need to be inspected by an American Homeowners Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) certified and licensed professional home inspector.
While a home inspection is optional in most locations in the United States, many lenders make it a mandatory step for approving a loan on a home, and with good reason. Nobody wants to be on the hook for costly repairs to a home that should have been made by the previous owner prior to sale. Your realtor is going to strongly advise you to get a professional home inspection, so there is only one consideration left to ponder: what should your ASHI certified home inspector be looking for?
Here’s a list of areas and items that a competent professional home inspector should examine during your home inspection.
Your home inspector generally starts by inspecting the grounds of the property. Here are some items they typically examine:
Next, inspectors typically examine the structure of the house for the following possible issues:
Once they have determined that the exterior structure is in good condition, an inspector will typically move on examining the exterior surfaces of the house.
After inspecting the major exterior surface of the home, a home inspector will turn their attention to the windows, doors, and any exterior trim. Here are some of the items they will be looking at closely:
Now that doors, windows, and trim have all been properly checked, your home inspector will check the roof for potential problems. Here is what they are looking for:
In addition to the roof, home inspectors will also want to examine the attic for issues as well. Here are some of the items they check under the surface of the roof:
After checking out the attic, most home inspectors turn their attention to the interior rooms of the house. Here are a few items they are checking for:
When inspecting the kitchen, your home inspector will most likely be examining the following items:
In each bathroom of the home, your inspector will be looking at all of the following and more:
If the potential home has a basement, the inspector will generally check for the following:
No home inspection would be complete without checking the pipes and wiring to make sure they are safe and undamaged. Here is what your inspector will be checking for:
Last but not least, your home inspector should examine the home’s heating and air conditioning systems. Here is what they will be looking for:
Thermal imaging allows us to get temperature details about a home, and assess how protected against environmental elements the home is. Thermal inspections can reveal:
No matter where you are in America, your home may be exposed to dangerous radon gas. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer and is very prevalent in Colorado.
One of the most often-overlooked inspections when purchasing a new home is a sewer scope inspection. Older homes often have clay or Orangeburg sewer pipes that can be easily damaged. Homes of any age can have problems with the underground sewer pipes caused by soil settlement or poor burial.
Upon completion of your inspection, a comprehensive inspection report will be emailed to you along with photos. This report will be emailed to you the same day, giving you plenty of time to evaluate it. After you have had a chance to review the report, if you have questions about any findings or need clarification, please call us so we can answer your questions.
If you are in the process of purchasing a home and want to ensure that you are not buying your way into future home ownership woes, be sure to contact an ASHI-certified home inspector and get that potential home inspected prior to making an offer. You may end up avoiding a money-pit at worst, and a potential lowered asking price at best.
| Colorado Springs | Monument | Security |
|---|---|---|
| Manitou Springs | Palmer Lake | Falcon |
| Peyton | Woodland Park | Divide |
Whether you are a buyer making a property investment, a seller hoping for a quick home or building sale or a realtor looking for a highly qualified inspection company, contact Key Inspection Services today!
