When you’re excited to get a new home, the home inspector might seem a little bit like the fun police. But, there are a lot of home inspection issues, both major and minor, that anyone with an untrained eye can easily miss. Here are some of the most common home inspection issues uncovered in a home inspection.
Foundation Problems
Let’s start at the bottom, shall we? A solid foundation is essential to a healthy, well-built home. But foundation problems can occur over time, and undiagnosed ones may destroy your home’s structural integrity. That’s why catching them early so you can fix them (or choose not to buy a home) is one of the first responsibilities of a licensed home inspector.
We’ll search for cracks in your foundation, which can come from expanding clay (used in many foundations), intrusive tree roots, natural disasters, shifting earth, and other reasons. We’ll also look for evidence of leaks and water wicking, plus many other foundation problems commonly uncovered in a home inspection.
Water Damage (and Leaks!)
While inspecting your foundation, we’ll also be looking for water damage. Besides holes in the foundation, wicking, or improper materials/constructions, the slope of your property can also cause water to go toward your house.
But water damage doesn’t just occur at the foundation! Plumbing, soffits, and drain pipes can all be sources of water damage.
Insect Issues
Termites can be death to the structural integrity of a home. That’s why a termite inspection is required for most home purchases. Another of the most common home inspection issues we find is termites or evidence of damage from a previous termite inspection.
Hazardous Materials
Another item that inspectors are on the lookout for is hazardous materials. These come in many forms, including materials that used to be considered acceptable in homebuilding. We can’t test materials for you, but if we see something that looks like asbestos, for example, we will point it out so you can take the necessary steps.
Asbestos is one common home inspection issue we find. If asbestos is exposed, it can be dangerous to your health. In some circumstances, when asbestos shingles are encapsulated (sealed off from the inside or outside of the home), you can leave it in place. But as a potential homeowner, you should know all the facts before making any decision.
Code Violations
Whether you are planning to flip a home or live in one long-term, there’s a decent chance at some point that you will be doing some form of construction, repair, or remodeling. While certain building practices are no longer allowed, they may be grandfathered in to an existing home. However, if you make changes, you can run into a problem.
That is why one of the home inspection issues we alert you to is construction code violations. Construction code violations may be a current or future danger or may create future headaches when doing your own remodeling projects.
Let Detail View Look Out for Common Home Inspection Issues for You
While we can give you a general idea about some of the significant categories of home inspection issues you’re most likely to encounter when purchasing a property, it’s always best to leave the inspections to licensed professional home inspectors. There’s a lot to search for, and much of it is easy to miss, especially when you’re looking at a house with the excitement of buying a home!
At Detail View, we have years of experience we couldn’t possibly get across in a single blog. And we encourage you to work with someone like us for your Virginia home inspections. Call us anytime!
