6 Things To Not Miss When Conducting A Home Inspection

A home inspection is an important step in the buying process. Professional home inspectors will check for any kind of issues—from the physical condition, construction, electrical, piping, and other functional aspects of the house.

Although home inspectors usually check a home thoroughly, they may still miss a couple of things. So, as much as possible, create a checklist of your own and later ask the inspectors if they have gone through everything already. In some instances, you may need to hire a separate team of professionals for specialized inspections Here are some of the things that you shouldn’t miss during a home inspection especially if you’re a first-time buyer.

1. Roof Leaks

Roof leaks are often one of the things that home inspectors miss during an inspection. This usually happens in houses where the roof is quite high and unsafe for the inspector to climb up and look around for leaks. 

If the home is tall or if the roof is covered in snow or ice, the inspector will not climb up the roof to check it up close. They usually inspect roofs on the ground level using binoculars which is not really reliable when checking for leaks. 

For a thorough roof check, you should consider hiring a roof contractor to make sure that the roof is in good condition. If possible, you might also want to schedule the inspection during summer where there’s less snow, ice, or leaves getting stocked up on the roof.

2. HVAC Problems

Home inspectors also check the HVAC system of a house as it is a general part of an inspection. The problem with inspecting the HVAC system though is that it is not always easy to do. In some cases, inspecting the HVAC system is not advisable especially if the weather is extremely cold or hot.  

For instance, if it’s midsummer and the weather is too hot, it could be dangerous to thoroughly inspect a heating system. The same can be said for inspecting a cooling system during the coldest months of winter. If you want to make sure that your HVAC system gets checked, you can hire an HVAC service professional instead. But you may also schedule the home inspection during spring or fall where the weather is much more bearable.

3. Pests

A lot of homebuyers rush into signing the paperwork and move into their new house only to find out that it has a pest problem. Pests such as termites and rodents can cause health and safety issues to you and your family. 

Inspectors like Axios Home Inspections can check for pest infestations, but if the infestation is not yet widespread or if the inspection is done during winter, which is the time when pests are usually dormant, then an inspector won’t be able to find evidence of a pest infestation. If possible, schedule the pest inspection during spring or summer where most animals are active.

4. Radiation Levels

Radon is a type of radiation that can cause significant health problems. It is important to test the radon levels of a home before you buy and move into it. However, not all home inspectors are equipped to perform radon testing, causing them to miss such a very important part of the inspection. 

Radiation can come from many sources that you might not even think to consider such as drinking water. It’s best to hire a radiation specialist in your area to perform radon testing on a house. 

5. Swimming Pool Issues

Some home inspectors are willing to include the swimming pool and they may also tell you if you need to hire another professional to check it. Not a lot of homes have swimming pools. Hence, most home inspection companies don’t anticipate a swimming pool to be checked. So, if your house has one, make sure to inform the company beforehand.

6. Fireplace & Chimney Issues

Home inspectors also take a look at chimneys and fireplaces and check them for issues but it’s not really a thorough inspection. If the home you want to buy has a chimney and it is a major source of heat, you might want to hire a professional chimney inspector. This is to ensure that the chimney and fireplace are still in good working condition and will not become a fire hazard later on.

Conclusion

Once you find a house that you really like, it’s easy to overlook some things because of the excitement. If you want to move into a new house, you need to make sure that it is checked thoroughly by an experienced home inspector so you won’t have to face unexpected issues down the road. 

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