If you're selling your home, you don't want any unpleasant surprises from your home inspection. You may feel nervous before a home inspection because inspections are very thorough and involve an examination of just about every aspect of your home.
As a seller, you should know that there are certain issues in particular that give sellers the most problems during inspections. The following are seven potential problems you should investigate and rule out before you have your home officially inspected to give yourself greater peace of mind.
Unstable foundation
The home inspection service is going to check to see if the foundation of your home is stable and if it exhibits any hazardous cracks or other signs of damage. The foundation can be a big problem for a seller because some homeowners don't realize that their foundation is in need of repair.
Signs of foundation problems that need to be addressed before you sell include visible exterior cracks, doors that don't fit squarely in frames, and cracks in your sheetrock. If your home shows any of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to call a foundation repair service and have them take a look.
Roof repair needs
Your roof needs to be in decent shape when you sell your home. If you have numerous missing shingles, you're probably going to need to invest in roof repair or offer the buyer a reduction in price for roof repair needs.
Poor drainage
Your home needs proper surface grading around its perimeter to ensure that you don't have drainage issues like standing water collecting in your yard. Over time, drainage issues can lead to other types of home damage including foundation problems.
If you have noticed pooling water in your yard in the past, you might have drainage issues that need to be taken care of with surface grading services.
Plumbing malfunctions
Your home inspection will include a thorough examination of all of your plumbing fixtures. All of your plumbing fixtures should be in good working order or plumbing problems will be recorded in your inspection.
Insect or rodent pests
Finding out that your home is infested with pests is one of the worst possible results of a home inspection. Not only will you have to pay to get rid of the infestation, but you'll also have to go on living in your home for the time being knowing that you are sharing it with pests.
Mold growth
Mold growth is another unpleasant potential problem that could cause a deal with a buyer to fall through. Mold growth can be a costly problem. If mold is present, it's usually a sign of water damage. This could indicate additional problems including roof leaks and plumbing system malfunctions.
Electrical problems
The home inspection service will examine your electrical system to make sure that it is both functional and safe. Common electrical issues home inspectors find include damaged receptacles, circuit breaker malfunctions, and reverse polarity issues.
Your home is more likely to have electrical problems if it is a fairly old property. This is especially true if your home was constructed with aluminum wiring. You might end up needing to have a home rewire done if your wiring is in poor enough shape.
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