Did My House Pass the Inspection?
Home inspections are not about pass and fail, as an exam was at high school or university. In general a home inspection is really an analysis of the overall condition of your home and the various systems within it, such as the water and electrical systems.
A buyer, or customer, who hires a qualified house inspector to asses the quality of your property will eventually be the one who decides how to react and acknowledge the actions highlighted in the report, by the home inspector. It is important to remember though, that every buyer has their own ideas about what is and isn't acceptable. For example if the home inspector finds that the water system is in a really bad condition, one buyer may ask for it to be repaired, before they move in, and one may say that is fine as they are making alterations anyway and are happy with how it is.
No House Is Perfect
In reality very few houses escape the home inspectors inspections unscathed, so if you think that your house is perfect, be prepared to be told that it is not! With any property there are always a few maintenance or repairs that will need attention.
Typically the houses that are inspected by a home inspector usually require annual repairs and maintenance that costs around 1-2% of the value of the property. More often that not, however, home inspectors find that properties need between 2-8%, of the value of the property, in repairs and maintenance costs.
Common Faults
There are many faults and repairs that can be found during a home inspection. Some of the most common items that are found to need repair include the following
Wood panels: Wood rot can occur due to moisture and soil-wood contact in areas such as decks, foundations and porches.
Roofs and roof venting systems: These can be damaged by general use and can include flashing and deteriorating chimneys Tub and shower walls, as well as, bathroom floors. Furnaces that have not been serviced or cleaned for years Outdated electrical systems and unsafe electrical wiring Gutters, downspouts and improper downspout drains Asbestos containing material, especially in homes built or remodeled prior to 1978
