Getting Through the Home Inspection

Home Selling Advice
Nearly all home buyers hire a professional home inspector to take a close look at their new house before closing. You can speed things along by analyzing the condition of your home and making necessary repairs now, before it cost you more $$$$.

Home inspections cover numerous systems within the house, but there are a handful of hot-spots that seem to worry buyers the most:

Mold & Mildew

Mildew stains and odors scare buyers, especially now that toxic black mold is such a hot topic, and chances are you won't even get an acceptable offer if mold and mildew are present. Even if the mold in your house is the normal variety, kill it and fix the source of the problem.

Damp Basements and Crawlspaces

Mildew odors signal that a basement is too moist.  Buyers and home inspectors will look closely at the walls and floors for patches of mildew and signs of dampness. The inspector might use a meter to determine how much moisture is present in these spaces, because moisture deteriorates building materials and attracts insects. 

* Cover exposed earth in basements and crawl spaces with plastic to help keep moisture levels down. Most foundation "leaks" we see are a result of poor drainage and grading that funnels water towards the foundation.

* Make sure gutters are clean so that rainwater flows toward downspouts instead of spilling over gutter sides along the foundation. 

*Point drainage downspouts away from the house.

Roofs and Chimneys
Deteriorated shingles or other roof coverings are one of the first things home buyers and home inspectors notice. If the elements underneath the shingles are moist or rotted, you can bet repairs will be requested.

Make sure flashing around the base of the chimney is watertight, and that mortar and bricks are in good condition. 

* Inspect the fireplace to make sure it is functioning properly.

Plumbing Problems

Fix leaks long before the home inspection takes place. The inspector will check water pressure by turning on multiple faucets and flushing toilets at the same time.

Inadequate or Inferior Electrical Systems

The electrical panel and circuit breaker configuration should be adequate for the needs of the house.

The inspector will look for receptacles with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in bathrooms, exterior and kitchens. These receptacles contain mini circuit breakers that click off during a short circuit or overload. The home inspector will likely make sure the receptacles are working properly & wired correctly. The inspector will test a portion of the remaining receptacles in the house.

Other Important Home Inspection Checks

* The home inspector will check the heating and cooling systems, making sure they work and commenting about their efficiency.

* The home inspector will take a close look at the structure and foundation.

* The home inspector will check appliances that remain with the house, including smoke detectors.

Realtors and sellers are recognizing the benefits of obtaining a pre-listing home inspection in order to identify and address potential deal-killing problems.  It's better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market.

Having a pre-listing inspection performed by Quality Home Inspections Inc. will make the whole sale process easier. 

For more information about our services, please visit our web site at www.qualityhomeinspection.ca.   I hope you have a successful spring season; looking forward to working with you and your clients soon.

Contributed by Arshad Khan, Certified Home Inspector - B.Sc.Eng.

Quality Home Inspections Inc. "We See What You Don't See"              

 (905) 231-9882 / (416) 627-4773