Typical Issues Found During a Home Inspection

For sellers, you dream of that moment when a buyer will fall in love with your home and make an offer that you can agree upon. You may picture yourself in that moment ready to celebrate, until you start worrying what might happen during the home inspection.

The home inspection has, after all, the ability to uncover things you did not know about your home.  You think the roof is in good shape, but is it? You have not seen any signs of pests, but are they hidden just waiting for the inspector to unearth damage that could jeopardize the sale of your home? Hopefully, you have combatted these potential issues long before you try and sell your home.

The home inspection is perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking phases of a home sale/purchase because the issues that might be discovered could scare buyers off. But there are typical problems you can be proactive in repairing-before the home inspection, so that the unexpected does not scare away your buyers. Here are the top issues found by home inspectors.

1. Moisture in the basement: Look for moisture seeping in through certain areas or small cracks in a foundation wall. This maybe an avenue where groundwater can enter into the basement. A basement waterproofing contractor can provide a quote on how to quickly repair any minor problems.
   
   
2. Poor/failing gutters: An old or failing gutter system cannot only lea to damage to your roof but also your siding and foundation. Make certain gutters do not get clogged and that drainage is led away from the foundation of the home.
   
   
3. Failing to keep up with maintenance: Home owners who didn't do proper upkeep of the home may find that several issues surface during a home inspection. Things include protecting wooden surfaces (decks, stairs or even your home’s siding), upkeep for your water heater, furnace, and air-conditioning systems, which should be serviced each year. A homeowner should take care to caulk tubs and showers to prevent water leakage s needed. Fans and exhaust systems should have filter changed and be cleaned regularly.
   
   
4. Faulty wiring: Home inspectors commonly find ungrounded fixtures, spliced wires not terminated in a proper electric box, receptacles wired backward, and improper breakers in the electric service panel. If you suspect that any of these issue maybe present, it pays to know about it and repair before you try and sell your home. An electrician can inspect and advise you how to resolve any potential electrical issues.
5. Leaky roofs: A leaky roof can eventually cause mold to form and wood rot to the entire structure. Even small leaks can become more troublesome if they're not repaired.
   
   
6. Poor or DYI/Amateur workmanship: Homeowners who try “Do it Yourself” projects beyond their expertise can cause issues for themselves during a home inspection. Things like improper plumbing jobs do not pass inspection. For home owners who have tackled DIY projects, they may want to hire a professional to double-check their work prior to putting the home on the market.
   
   
7. Pest damage: Termites and carpenter ants can do tremendous damage to the structure of your home. It is not always obvious that they have moved in either. You can look for signs of their chewing on wooden surfaces like your window sills, below outside doorframes, and basically anyplace that wood from the home meets dirt, but it is best to get a pest inspection done by a professional (and regular pest treatments) to reassure yourself and potential buyers that your home is protected against termite and carpenter ants.

The fact is that most home inspection issues could have been prevented or repaired with a little forethought from the home seller. Investigate and address these most common issues before you list your home for sale, or at least before your home goes under contract and reaches the point of a buyer’s home inspection. Taking care of any repairs and maintenance issues early will save you a lot of stress and aggravation down the road.