Top Five Home Inspection Report Issues to Look Out For
As you may recall from our Understanding Your Inspection Report tool, your home inspection is an integral step in the home buying process and is your last line of defense before closing, in all likelihood, the biggest deal of your life.
The home inspection occurs after your offer has been accepted, so it’s easy for the excitement to take over and want to rush through the process.?We’ve taken the liberty of detailing some major red flags and expensive home issues that you may run into so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed:
#1 Roof Issues
Issues with the roof of the home can be one of the most costly items you can find on a home inspection report.?A full roof replacement can cost anywhere from $8,000-$40,000 depending on the size of the roof and materials used.?
But roof issues can cause problems beyond the cost of repair or replacement alone.?If water and snow are getting through your roof, it may cause structural damage, mold, and even damage to your personal belongings.?Here are a few specific roofing issues to be on the lookout for:
To learn more about roofing pricing or to schedule an inspection, visit our friends at RoofingCosts.org.
#2 Water Drainage?
Water is your home’s greatest adversary, and while your roof is your greatest defense against water, proper drainage is a close second.?If water is not draining and flowing away from your home, it can cause significant (and expensive) damage to the foundation of your home.?A good place to start is to check the gutters and spouts to make sure they are functioning properly, and to check if there is any pooling water close to the home.?You should make sure your inspector is using an infrared camera to see if there is any water damage underneath your home that is invisible to the naked eye.??
To learn more about protecting your gutters from improper water drainage, check out our partners at mygutterguards.com.
#3 Foundation Issues
Your home’s foundation is the lowest load-bearing part of your home and ensures the rest of your home is structurally sound, so it’s essential that this is up-to-code.?The average cost of foundation repairs is around $5,000, with major repairs costing upwards of $11,000.?Here are some signs of issues with the home’s foundation:
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It’s recommended to hire an expert such as a structural engineer to perform tests to uncover any issues with the foundation of the home and explain what needs to be fixed.??
#4 Mold
If your home inspection uncovers mold, the first thing you should do is call a mold inspector, which can cost an additional $300-$500.?The mold inspection will tell you the type of mold you have in your home and how to remediate it.?Mold remediation can cost anywhere from $1,500-$4,000.?Additionally, it’s likely that the mold is a result of other issues with your home, such as:
#5 Electrical Issues
Here’s a scary stat: in the United States, there are more than 51,000 electrical fires in residential homes each year.?That should be reason enough to make sure that your home’s electrical system has been properly inspected and is up-to-code.?Some common issues found on home inspection reports include:?
Even an entire home rewiring averaging around $3/square foot can be a heck of a lot cheaper than the cost of damage caused by an electrical fire.
What to do if you find issues on your home inspection report
If you find issues on your home inspection report, it’s important to carefully consider the time, energy, and cost involved with fixing any issues.?Once you’ve put a price on the cost of repairing any issues, you have a few different options:??
Regardless of what you decide, it’s important to arm?yourself with as much information as possible about the condition of the home!