It is common in our line of business to get complaints from clients who say they discovered problems after they closed the deal on their new homes. This can be due to the faults the former homeowners failed to disclose or defects home inspectors failed to spot. No system is perfect so these things do happen once in a while. However, there are certain steps you can take as a home buyer before and during the home inspection to protect yourself from such issues that crop up after the deal had been closed.
Below are a list of some preliminary measure you can take as a consumer:
Run a check on every electrical outlet to make sure everything is in perfect conditions.
Make sure all windows are opened, even if the inspection is carried out in winter to ensure none is painted shut or stuck.
Check for cracked tiles or walls under the bed, rug, or behind framed pictures and artworks. Look for defects under any heavy equipment in the kitchen.
Check if any appliances show signs of rust. Check their age. Discounted models should be replaced when they break down because finding spare parts for them may not be easy.
At the beginning of every home inspection, start the dishwasher. This will help you check for leakages by the end of the cycle.
Flush every toilet in the property to make sure none stops running after it is filled.
Check all sinks, showers and tubs in the house. Check if the water flow from each faucet is perfect and make sure everything drains appropriately.
To make sure the water system is in perfect condition, turn on every faucet in the house and flush a toilet at the same time, if the water pressure in any of the sinks slows down, then there is a problem in the water system.
Older homes often require additional sewage inspection to ensure everything is ok.
Check for stains and leaks under the heating system.
Check the age of the air conditioning system and how often it is serviced to make sure the right amount of cold or hot air gets to all the rooms in the house.
Check the state of the furnace and the last time it was inspected by a gas company. It should be at least check once every year.
Check for signs of leak in the ceiling to make sure there is no plumbing or roofing issues.
The inspector should check for cracked or broken shingles on the roof. Check all eaves for signs or rot or decay. If the house is up to 20 years old, and still has the original roof, contacting a roofing contractor for thorough roof inspection may be necessary.
There may also be need to carry out a separate inspection for termites and moulds, especially in areas that are more prone to termite inversion.
Adequate preparation before and during inspections coupled with the right questions will go a long way to protect you from some defects that may be noticed after the close of the home deal.