Home buyers these days have it drilled into their heads that they need home inspections. In California, for example, real estate agents are advising home buyers to do different types of home inspections in 15 different ways starting on Sunday; they are not silent about it. Our purchase contracts contain two pages that explain the reasons for home inspections, and these two pages are repeated in the buyer ‘s brokerage contract . California home inspection checklist is a huge deal.
Done incorrectly, they don’t always show a buyer everything that might be wrong.
But what does a home inspection report reveal? Home buyers are often in the dark about home construction and its components, and have a hard time deciphering home inspections. The terminology could also be confusing, and few know the difference between a truss and a stud. How does a buyer who has never owned a home know what should be included in the home inspection checklist? Many buyers also don’t know how to determine what types of defects are serious or if their home inspector has checked all the essentials. This can be scary for a buyer.
Systems and Components .
Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, ducts, chimney, fireplace and sprinklers. Usually a separate chimney inspection is done if the inspector suspects there is a problem. Not all home inspectors check sprinklers to make sure they are working properly.
- Electrical
Main panel, circuit breakers, wiring types, grounding, exhaust fans, outlets, ceiling fans and light fixtures. Ask if the electrical panel is on a recall list. Is this the code? Are the user’s electrical panel circuit breakers (preferred) or fuses (expired)?
- Appliances
Dishwasher, stove and oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal and, yes, even smoke detectors. Washers and dryers are usually included if they stay with the house, but ask because these appliances are personal property.
- Garage .
Slab, walls, ceiling, vents, driveway, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows and roof. If the garage is attached to the house, it might also require a pest inspection, depending on the type of loan the borrower is getting. Does the garage have a firewall? Does the garage door in the house have self-closing hinges?
- Home Inspection Checklist Items Requiring Service
Home inspection reports do not describe the condition of every component if it is in excellent condition, but should note each item that is faulty or needs service. The serious problems are
- Item Inspection Checklist Sellers Should Correct
If you have a choice, it might make more sense to hire your own contractors and oversee the repairs. Before making a formal repair request, consider the seller’s incentive to hire the cheapest contractor and replace devices with the cheapest brands.
Although home inspectors are reluctant to disclose repair costs, and in some cases refuse to disclose them, call a contractor to determine the scope and cost of fixing minor problems yourself. . No house is perfect. Every home will have issues noted or reported in a home inspection. Even new homes.
A repair issue that will be a deal breaker for a first-time California home inspection checklist, causing the buyer to rescind the contract, will not skew a home buyer versed in home repair. Talk to your agent, family, and friends and call a few contractors to discuss what types of defects are minor. Perhaps a simple fix is available such as a $1.99 receptacle replacement, which can fix many output issues.
Pat yourself on the back, too, to get a home inspection. Some buyers feel that a home inspection is unnecessary, especially if they are buying new construction . If a light switch isn’t working or the air conditioner is blowing out hot air, these are issues you can see and test. Problems that are not easily identifiable to you, such as code violations, a furnace leaking carbon monoxide, or a failing chimney, are the types of defects an inspector can identify in a new home. Builders’ contractors also make mistakes.