Every home is bound to have issues, and most homeowners deal with problems as they become aware of them. Some are cosmetic and may not necessarily affect a home sale, but others are deal breakers, and property inspections are required by lenders to uncover major issues that could stop prospective buyers from purchasing a property.
If you’re looking to sell your property, you may want to arrange for home inspections ahead of time so that you can make repairs before you put your house on the market. Buyers will certainly benefit from making residential inspections a condition of purchasing property.
What are home inspectors looking for? Here are a few of the most common home inspection nightmares that crop up during property inspections.
Enhancing Home Appeal with Professional Cleaning
Professional Cleaning Services: Beyond structural and functional issues, the overall cleanliness and presentation of a home can significantly impact a buyer’s perception. A professional cleaning service can address areas often overlooked by homeowners, such as deep-seated grime, dust in hard-to-reach places, and stains on surfaces. By ensuring the home is spotless and fresh-smelling, sellers can create a more inviting atmosphere, potentially increasing the home’s appeal and market value. It’s a worthwhile investment to consider before listing a property or hosting open house events.
Grade Issues
Before a home is built, the soil on the property must meet standards for grading, or slope, as well as firmness. Proper drainage should also be implemented. These provisions help to ensure that water runs away from a structure instead of toward it, alleviating the chance for leaks and flooding.
Unfortunately, soil can settle and erode over time, and homes can settle, as well. This can lead to pooling around the home, and eventually, leakage in lower floors. Before a sale can occur, homeowners might have to regrade or install additional drainage.
Leaks
One of the most common issues found during many residential inspections is leakage, and it can occur at the roof level, in the basement, or due to outdated or damaged plumbing, for example. Unfortunately, leaks can lead to rot, mold, and a variety of unsavory issues that should be addressed before a home sale can occur.
Faulty Wiring
There are two main ways in which faulty wiring could impact the sale of a home. In some cases, wiring is outdated and/or insufficient for the structure. As a result, it may not be up to the task of meeting modern demands for electrical usage.
In other cases, upgrades or additions have been made that don’t meet standards for building codes. A home with such violations may scare off potential buyers and you should consider making these fixes prior to listing your property.
Plumbing Issues
Outdated plumbing is a common problem in older homes. It is one of the last things homeowners want to replace because of the great expense it can entail
Over time, however, older plumbing can begin to deteriorate, causing leaks or backups in the plumbing system. Not all plumbing problems will stop a home sale, but when home inspections turn up code violations, these should be fixed.
Foundation Failures
It’s not uncommon for foundations to settle, tilting or even cracking in the process. When this happens, however, houses may lean in response, causing sloped floors, cracks around seams, and window and door frames that are no longer true, leading to sticking. Leaks in the basement area may also occur if the vapor barrier is damaged.
Not all foundation issues will necessarily impede a home sale, but cracked foundations must be addressed eventually, so it’s best to require such fixes prior to purchasing property.