Home Inspections

Here are three of the best reasons to consider ordering a home inspection.
 
1. Many people think that a home inspection will cost them a lot of money. But all in all, this is not true. For the most part, you should be able to order a home inspection for around $300. Of course, this will differ based on the type of property, area….but this is a small price to pay for finding out what could potentially be wrong with the home that you are considering remodeling.
 
2. If you do not pay for a home inspection now, you may end up paying for it later. In other words, a problem that is not caught before you begin is one that could cost you dearly at a later date.
 
3. A home inspection will give you peace of mind. It is much better to pay for an inspection before remodeling so that you can live stress free when the job is done.

These are three great reasons to order a home inspection – better to be safe than sorry.

Here are three important steps to take when hiring a home inspection company.

1. Make sure that you speak with several companies before settling on the one that will complete your inspection. No matter where you live, you should be able to find at least two home inspection companies that are in your area. After speaking with them you will have a much better feel for the company that knows the most, offers the best price, and is willing to help in anyway possible.

2. Talk about price before you finalize the details of the inspection. Remember, you want to make sure that you are totally aware of every last dollar you are going to be charged. Being surprised with an extra fee at the time of payment is never fun. A good company will give you an exact figure so that you can have everything ready in advance.

3. If possible, obtain references or testimonials from those who have used the company in the past. This will allow you to rest comfortably knowing that your home inspection company is in the hands of a reputable company. Once again, you cannot afford any mistakes when it comes to your inspection. Missing out on one detail could cost you a lot of money sometime in the future.

These three steps should help you when it comes time to hire a home inspection company. Of course, you may want to add some of your own steps in between as well. As long as you take your time and speak with several companies, you will have a very good idea of what you want and need. From there, it should be smooth sailing as long as no major problems are discovered during the inspection.

Inspection Extras

What are some possible extras? First off, and quite important, is a radon test. Radon is a harmful substance that can leak into your home from the foundation. This is not necessarily common, but certain areas of the country have been known to have many homes affected by this. Over the long term, it is believed that excess exposure to radon can cause some sorts of cancer. Obviously, this is something that you want to protect against. Luckily, most home inspection companies will also offer a radon test. This is something that you should definitely consider buying if offered. For only another $100 or so, you can get your home tested for this issue.

Another common extra is a wood infestation test. Again, this may not be a common problem, but depending on where you live it could be a problem nonetheless. As you probably know, termites and other wood damaging insects can cause a lot of problems. This is especially true if they have taken over the interior walls of a home, or have moved into an attic or other crawl space. For a fairly reasonable fee, you should be able to add this to your basic home inspection. Just like the radon test, this is something that you should consider.  If these problems are present, you want to make sure that they are taken care of. This way, you can either fix the problem before you begin, or make it part of the remodel.

Basements are common in Washington.  You are probably well aware that some basements take in water anytime that it rains. This is something that you never want to deal with. If your home inspection shows that this is a problem, then you will definitely want to address that issue. After all, do you want to deal with a wet basement every time that it rains? Make sure you understand the problem and what the solutions might be.

Another common basement related problem has to do with mold. This can be caused by water seepage, as well as a number of other issues. Again, mold is a serious problem that not only looks and smells bad, but can also cause some serious health issues. If the basement has mold, your inspector will more than likely be able to pick up on it within a matter of minutes.

Finally, a cracked foundation can often times be seen in the walls of a basement. As you probably know, this is one of the worst issues that a home can have. A cracked foundation costs a lot of money to repair, and can keep the resale value of a home very low. This is a problem you want to be aware of if it exists.

Overall, a home that has a basement has the potential for many additional issues. Make sure that your home inspector covers the basement thoroughly.

In addition there is the air conditioning and the heater as well as the electrical and don’t forget any decking and of course the roof.  A thorough inspection will give you a clear idea of what needs your attention.  And for anything that does not need attention today, it is a good idea for peace of mind to at minimum have the confidence that everything else is in good working order.

Keeping Your Home Fit - The Sax Man
(View The Sax Man at the Builder's Blocks on Comcast VOD every week. Just enter '888' on your remote)

Come January each year the health clubs often see a rise in membership and at least in areas like California and Arizona where the weather permits you see some fresh faces walking the streets.  Yes, those new resolutions begin to kick into gear as people decide it’s time to get into shape after the holidays. 

Well, it might be a good time to get those honey dews attended to at the same time.  A good sweat under the pipes or a little stress and strain getting that fence repaired my just be the trick to loosing those two inches.

Although healthy activity is always a good idea, keeping your home fit can prevent having to empty the old pocket book.  Things like water intrusion which can cause rot, stain walls causing a lot of serious damage is something that should always be watched for.  Waiting to long to fix a small problem can become a big problem in quick hurry. 

Here are some things to consider:

• Any type of water intrusion should be dealt with immediately
• A regular roof inspection can save you from big repairs
• Don’t wait to fix breaks in your fencing.

Just like a regular exercise program which takes discipline, addressing issues around the home should be treated the same way.  Regularly watch for issues such as loose grout and broken tiles, linoleum that is curling up…anything that can allow water to seep in.  And anyone that owns a home knows it doesn’t take much.  Even the smallest of holes can in time cause big damage and that means costly repairs.  And in the case of water drainage and gutters you can be talking about serious foundational issues.

And what about safety?

Build up of water over time can cause walkways, steps and driveways to become slippery which can lead to serious falls as well as cause earth to move weakening steps and eventually causing cracks to form in cement.  And any handrails can also be a problem if broken since they are usually there for a reason.

And don’t forget about electrical outlets.  Use the test buttons to make sure the ground-faults are working.  That is a good thing to do under normal conditions but especially where there is the presence of water.

And don’t forget about smoke detectors for the sleeping areas and hallways that lead to the bedrooms.  Install them and test them regularly.  Now you are talking about the safety of your family.
Water damage can be an issue that raises its ugly head when you decide to sell and if it has been unattended to it can cut into your profits in a big way.  And I don’t know about you but one’s home is usually their biggest single investment they will make in their lifetime and to face a $30-40-50,000 repair job to get the house into shape to move up is a lot of money that could have been avoided with just a little time and attention.

So here are a few things to think about:

• Clean out rain gutters and downspouts regularly
• Repair stucco cracks or damage siding.
• Recaulk showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets to keep water out of the walls and floors.
• Repair and seal window leaks to prevent mold and damage to the structure of the home.
• Cut back plants that have grown too close to the foundation.

Overgrown vegetation can cause moss to form making things slippery,  roots can cause damage…and if you don’t take care of things before they get out of control, they can become daunting tasks that no one wants to tackle.  And then that can be the source of much bigger problems in the future if left unattended.

Regular Roof Inspections

Depending upon the age of your roof, you should get your roof inspected regularly.  You do not want to discover you have a problem after the fact.  It is better to plan ahead of time to make an inspection a part of regular maintenance.  Remember, as previously stated, in most cases this is the biggest investment most people ever make and it is important to treat it that way so that you investment grows over time.  Water damage can quickly devalue your property and that is not a good thing.

Do You Ignore Care Maintenance?

Just like a car, the minute you move in that door, your house begins to deteriorate.  The difference with your home is that you know that with good care, that home is eventually going to increase in value.  And although today we are in an economic downturn, historically we know that homes are going to bounce back.  They always do.  So if we want to take advantage of that upturn, we need to “take care of business” as it occurs.  Ignoring repairs, yard maintenance, leaks…will bite you in the end.
 
Contractor or Self?

Obviously there are many things people can do on their own to stay on top of home maintenance. But depending upon age, skill level, physical ability…one can only do so much but by staying on top of the little things as they occur, in most cases they can be handled without hiring a professional.  There is usually plenty of information out there either in books or on the Internet on how to repair the simple problems but if you suspect a bigger problem either exists or could exist if not attended to properly, you can always call a professional.  

Most homeowners shouldn't attempt electrical repairs; trimming trees near high-powered electrical lines is extremely dangerous; projects that require special equipment one might consider hiring out.
On last thing, regular cleaning even of carpet, appliances, furniture, heater and A/C…can prolong the life of each unit which can also save you thousands of dollars over time. 

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