5 Essential Checks for Your Property Inspection

Getting a property inspection before you buy a home is vital as it can reveal significant issues like foundation cracks, leaks and other hazards. If this is your first time buying a house, you may not realize how risky it is to skip the home inspection.

If the building inspection suggests the property requires urgent repairs this is an opportunity for you to negotiate with the vendor to either get them remedied before you settle and take ownership or reduce the price of the home. Additionally a condition of the purchase could be, that it is subject to a satisfactory property inspection and if it fails you can cancel the transaction and walk away.

Another reason to get a building inspection done prior to buying the property is it will likely be a condition required by your insurance provider and also your mortgage lender.

In this article, we’ll cover five things you need to check during your property inspection. Make sure to keep reading so you know what not to miss!

1. Roof

The roof is the first item you’ll want to get checked during a home inspection. Find out when it was last replaced and how old it is. Have the previous owners noticed any current issues? The building inspector can get onto the roof and check for damage. Also check the gutters, flashings and vents. Roof repairs can be costly and more so if there is signs of leaks.

2. Foundation

While you could walk around the outside and inside of your new home, check for any obvious foundation issues, you’ll want a building inspector to do a thorough check for cracks. If there is sagging, or unevenness it’s a sign there may be structural weakness. Foundation repairs are seldom cheap and if the damage is extensive you may not wish to buy the home and incur the expense or inconvenience.

3. Heating/Cooling System

Make sure to check the heating and cooling system of the home next. Does it heat and cool the home properly?

Make sure to look for furnace repair issues as well. Some homeowners opt to convert their systems while keeping the old ones in place. If this is the case for your home, you’ll want to ask how old those systems are.

If you are unsure how old the systems are or if the previous owners replaced them, a property inspector can estimate their lifespan by checking the serial number. Most condensers last between 12 and 15 years, though.

4. Electrical System

Checking the home’s electrical system is one of the most essential items to check during a home inspection. What type of electrical system does the home have? If it was built between 1880 and 1930, it could run on the knob and tube wiring, also known as K&T. This type of system runs underground, which could lead to electrical shocks. Your property inspector will probably recommend replacing this type of wiring with an upgraded version.

You’ll also want to check that the home’s outlets are grounded and that every switch works. Lastly, you’ll want to look for a Federal Pacific Electric panel. These are older systems and are known to cause fires from overheating.

5. Oil Tank

Finally, you’ll need to know what kind of heating the home runs on before doing the property inspection. While some homeowners use oil to heat their houses, others use gas or electricity. Some houses were built to use one form of heating and have been converted since.

No matter how you intend to heat your new home, you must check the property for an oil tank. Although they may no longer exist on property grounds, some have empty ones sitting somewhere, even underground. If you don’t plan on using these tanks, you’ll want to check with your local laws to see the protocol for them.

What to Check During a Property Inspection

Getting a property inspection is always worth the small investment to guarantee your new home works properly and effectively for you and your family. While you may find some unexpected issues, it’s better to become aware of them before you move in rather than after.

For other tips and tricks on building, buying, renting, or leasing homes, check out our website. We also have a renovation category for you to check out once it’s time to update your new home!