How To Prepare Your Home For

The Building Inspection!

Home buyers may be as unique as the homes they are looking to buy, but they all share a common desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be. They will have concerns about the roof, the heating/cooling system, the floors and the walls and everything that they can't readily see with the naked eye. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for. Knowing what to look for can help you prevent little problems from growing into major problems.

Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two manners - leaking and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking, and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all Taps in the highest bathroom and then flushing the toilet. If you hear the sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes are undersized. If the water appears dirty when the Tap is first turned on, this is a strong sign that the pipes are rusting. This can result in severe water quality issues.

Inadequate electrical wiring can be dangerous as it can easily lead to fires. Home inspectors will look at power boards and double adaptors as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.

Insufficient insulation can lead to poorly working heating/cooling system and the inspector may advise the buyer of the additional expense to insulate the home.

Problems with the roof (water leakage, for example) can occur for many different reasons, such as physical deterioration of the roof or mechanical damage from a windstorm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, the external problem becomes a major internal one as well.

Damp spaces are a sign of ventilation problems, insulation and vapour barrier problems that can cause water to pool and form moisture, which in turn forms mould, mildew and in extreme cases rot. This can lead to premature wear on the roof, structure, and building materials. The cost to fix this damage can easily run to thousands of dollars.

Rotting wood and Termites can occur in many places, such as doors, window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences. The building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present - especially when wood has been freshly painted.

Also ensure that you remove old debris from the gardens and yards especially old braches and wood piles, as these can also be conducive to harbouring termites and are looked upon as unfavourable to a Building Inspector.

A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on the circuit than was originally intended. 10 amp circuits are the most common in a typical home, with larger service for large appliances such as stoves and dryers. It can cost several hundred dollars to replace your fuse panel with a circuit panel.

More than a purchased security system, an inspector will look for the basic safety features that will protect your home such as proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the front door, smoke detectors in all the bedrooms and on every level of the home. Even though pricing will vary, these components will add to your costs. Before purchasing or installing, you should check with your local experts.

An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying structure and foundation of your home, as structural integrity is vital to the life of the home.

When you put your home up for sale, it is important that you don't end up with any major surprises. By taking the time to check thoroughly the items listed in this report, you could save yourself thousands of dollars and the headache of a lawsuit down the road. If in doubt have your own Building Inspection done prior to Sale then you can rest easy knowing everything will be OK

If there is anything further that you require, do call.