Okay, so you’re ready to build your dream home. Take a breath and be sure you have a good game plan to follow. All too often homeowners make critical mistakes during their home-building process. To ensure your build goes smoothly, avoid these common pitfalls: Acting as Your Own General Contractor A general contractor gathers bids, works and/or hires any subcontractors, and in general, makes sure the work on your house is done to code, within budget and on schedule. Saving money by doing it yourself may sound like a great idea, but in the long run it could end up costing you more money. When all is said and done, go pro. Cutting Corners Even if you are working within a tight budget, now is not the time to cut corners on design and materials. Quality workmanship comes at a price, and materials for your home should last a lifetime. Don’t skimp on quality especially on bricks, roof tiles and windows. Remember too, that quality takes time. If a job requires a certain amount of hours to complete, don’t attempt to rush the tradesman to do it in less time. Quality will suffer and so will you. Be aware that some builders may bid lower to win your business but subsequently, tack on other costs/expenses down the road. Poor Location…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #7 What a Home Inspector Should Inspect in Your Attic
One of the least glamorous, but most important part of the inspection, is the attic. The attic holds the key for many critical components of the home including structure and energy efficiency. Although, an exterior inspection of the roof is critical, an inspection of the attic can provide additional evidence of current or past water entry that may not be evident anywhere else in the house. Since most homeowners rarely visit the attic, there may be unknown issues present in the attic which need to be addressed. Remember, one of the biggest complaints against home inspectors is missed roof leaks. Though both the exterior and attic inspections of the roof are considered essential, a good home inspector knows that quality information on the roofs’ condition can be obtained during the attic inspection. Attic Access The standard requires that the attic access type be identified. Most typical are pull down ladders, scuttle holes, stairs and door access. Some attics can be walked and others, due to construction or stored material, must be inspected from the furnace platform or the top of the ladder. Regardless, the means used must be identified and the reason why the inspector did not walk through the attic must be noted. Attic areas that are not accessible must also be identified on the report. Information gathered in…[Read More]
It’s Important to Inspect Your Home’s Foundation Regularly So You Can Catch Developing Problems Early!
We’re all guilty of it….we only see what is front and center…the obvious. However, when it comes to our homes, we need to be aware of all parts of the house – whether seen or unseen. It’s a simple truth that most people focus on things they see at eye level. Whether you are inside or outside your house, your attention is often drawn more to the doors, windows, or the siding. You may not think much about the foundation of your home. Every house has a foundation which provides support underneath either by concrete or stone. Severe cracks in walls can signal settlement and foundation problems. It’s important to inspect your foundation regularly, so you can catch problems in the early stages, before they become expensive repairs. Common Problems Typically, there are three types of foundations: Basements, crawl spaces, and slab. Regardless of the type of foundation you have, some foundation problems are quite common… Bulges and outward bumps – Usually caused by temperature changes and can lead to serious problems including abnormal settlement and potential building collapse. Cracking – Most cracking is caused by the settling of soil and nearby vibrations. Normal cracking is usually easily repaired and not a serious threat to the structure and safety of the home. However, continue to monitor cracks and call in…[Read More]
What is Radon Gas and Should You Be Concerned?
You don’t have to be a chemistry major to know that the presence of Radon gas in your home is no laughing matter. Radon is a colorless, inert radioactive gas that is slowly released during the breakdown, or natural decay, of uranium in the ground. This gas moves freely though soil, rock and water. Because it is the heaviest gas in nature, high levels of radon can accumulate in basements or generally poorly ventilated areas of a home or building. How Dangerous is Radon Gas? As radon decays, it continues to break down forming other radioactive elements in the process. These elements, when inhaled into the lungs, damage the cells that line the lungs causing lung cancer. Radon exposure has been linked to 16 percent of lung cancer deaths and is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. How Much Radon Is Too Much? Be aware that radon levels can vary over time and especially from season to season. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to conduct any radon testing over a duration of a few months, or even longer, to determine actual radon levels and to confirm if any remedial action is necessary. Since it’s such an important matter to get right, make sure to contact a certified radon inspector to perform testing on your…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #6 The Electrical Inspection of a Home
As you can imagine, a thorough home inspection involves parts of the home which are much more technical than others. When you think about the many intricate aspects of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC components, you realize a home inspector has to be at the top of his game. If there is a defect or deficiency in any of these areas, it is almost always based on trade codes and standards. The inspector is not performing a code compliance inspection, but will point out any deficiencies defined in that particular code for that category. For example, an inspector may note a missing cover from a junction box which is considered a potential safety or fire issue by the National Electrical Code. All junction boxes must have covers. Keep in mind that during the electrical part of the inspection, the inspector is at risk for serious electrical shock hazards as well. That is another reason why you should secure only a qualified professional home inspector to perform any home inspection. If an inspector is not up-to-date on code and safety standards, any missed or improperly identified items can pose a threat to the property’s occupants. The Outside Electrical Inspection Part of the electrical inspection is performed outdoors on the outside of the house. The cable service entrance, coming into the home…[Read More]
What Common Issues Are Revealed During a Home Inspection?
Home inspections are a valuable tool for any home buyer or home seller. As a buyer, you’ll come to the table armed with better information about the condition of the property, and as a seller, you will have the chance to address any repairs which makes for a faster and smoother closing. So what types of issues do home inspectors usually uncover? Below find a list of some common problems that can potentially derail your real estate transaction… Roofing Problems Concerns of a leaking foundation are legitimate, but a leaking roof can potentially cause damage throughout the house. Even minor roof wear and tear such as missing or damaged flashing, missing shingles, or damaged fascia board are reasons to worry. By and large, confirming the need to replace a roof that is approaching the end of its lifespan is the biggest concern to a prospective home buyer. No one wants the expense of replacing the roof right after they purchase a new home. Unsafe Electrical Work Electrical systems can be expensive to repair because sometimes it requires opening up the walls to expose the wiring. As expected, older homes tend to have more electrical issues as a result of improper add-ons to the original system aimed to provide support for new appliances. Deteriorating or rodent-damaged wiring is another problem, as…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #5 What Inspectors Look For In Garages
Some people may not consider the garage as important as other parts of the house when it comes to performing a home inspection. However, due to safety issues that are inherent in garages, inspecting the garage is key. Garages typically provide the storage space not only for vehicles, but also for lawn mowers, gasoline storage containers, and other lawn or household chemicals. For this discussion we will focus on garages and not carports. A carport must be identified and inspected for the report, but has fewer areas of concern as compared to a garage. During the home inspection, the garage must be identified as either “attached” or “detached”, where it is located adjacent to the house and number of cars it can accommodate. If detached, the roof will also be inspected. The Garage Floor An inspector will check concrete garage floors for any cracking or settling and determine whether or not this is indicative of some type of structural issue. Do the floors slope toward the overhead door? This is important as spilled products or gasoline flow toward the outside and not collect in the garage. Is there “Fire Separation” Between the Garage and the Living Space? Another important aspect of the inspection is to note whether or not there is fire separation between the garage and the living space…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #4 The Exterior of Your Home or Office
The exterior or shell of the house is exposed to continual climate changes and should be continuously checked and maintained to prevent deterioration. Even newer homes that are only a few years old can suffer the consequences of thinning paint and shrinking caulking. A Home Inspector can be enormously helpful to the buyer by pointing out any wood damage or maintenance issues on the exterior. Any tips on future maintenance issues and explanations on current conditions are also very helpful as not all buyers are familiar with maintaining a home. It’s always a good idea to have the buyer present to walk the exterior with the inspector so any problems can be identified and remedies discussed. This is much better that having the customer read about problems later when they get the inspection report. A good inspection and report should not contain any surprises if the buyer attended the inspection. Exterior Cladding During the inspection the type and condition of all exterior cladding must be identified and evaluated. Detailing problems like swelling or over driven nails will give the buyers information for possible repairs that need to be made. Improperly installed siding can lead to premature deterioration and may void any manufacturer’s warranties. Siding is subject to moisture damage and should be carefully inspected to assure water is not attacking…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #3 What Goes Into a Roof Inspection
The most common complaint against home inspectors is missed roof leaks. Leaks can be unknown even to the home seller. A leaking roof can cause tremendous damage to the home and are costly to replace or repair. An inspector must use all his resources to determine the condition of the roof covering, and if it is keeping the water out. Consider that, on average, a roof can shed 30,000 gallons of rain water a year. By comparison that is 18,750 toilet flushes. That is a lot of water hitting the roof, passing through the gutters and finally hitting the ground. Roof style, height, pitch and covering materials are all important factors in determining the expected performance of the roof. The inspection standard requires that a description of how the roof was inspected is included in the report. Walking on the roof, if possible, is the best method to allow the inspector to closely examine the entire roof. However, due to height and roof pitch, walking on the roof is usually not an option. Using binoculars, viewing from the ground, looking out windows and putting a ladder to the eave edge are all acceptable alternatives. Any areas that are not view-able due to height or pitch must be identified in the report. What’s The Condition of the Roof And Can It…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #1 An Overview of a Home Inspector’s Role and Responsibilities
The role of the home inspector is often misunderstood by both the Real Estate agent and the home buyer. Unfortunately, some home inspectors do not understand their role as an inspector either and can do more harm than good during the process. An unqualified or uninformed inspector can cause enormous problems that many times cannot be corrected. A clarification of the inspector’s role is essential in utilizing the inspection and inspection report in a proper and functional way. The inspector represents the buyer in the inspection process and is only responsible to that customer. The inspector should be looked upon as part of the buyer’s team which also includes the real estate agent, lender, closing attorney and any other experts hired by the buyer. The home inspector may be the only team member that is not influenced by whether or not the deal closes. The inspector gets paid at the time of the inspection. The information collected during the inspection is the sole property of the client and cannot be revealed to anyone without the client’s permission. In most cases, the client will share the inspection report with his/her real estate agent. The Responsibilities of a Home Inspector The sole responsibility of the inspector is to provide the client with a complete and thorough inspection which translate into the inspection…[Read More]
