When it comes to selling a home, you can bet your last dollar that the buyer would have hired a home inspector to assess your property. That’s fair enough, the buyer just wants to make sure that he is not falling for a dud. and that the property is indeed good enough to want to purchase. But you are bound to be a tad worried and may even get somewhat anxious. But here’s the down-low on home inspectors and what they are looking for. Here are some of the essential points on what an inspector is looking for, and what he expects to find when assessing your property.
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Water damage
One of the hardest things to cover up is water damage and naturally, almost all home inspectors tend to keep an eye out for water stains and signs of water damage on the house. Even stagnating water is bad for the foundation as it can lead it to develop cracks, which in turn can foster mold growth. When it comes to inspecting properties in Kitchener home inspectors jump to the immediate assumption that there must be some structural damage or even roof leaks. It is but a natural assumption but not so where inspectors are concerned as it is bound to get flagged as a major issue with the buyer.
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Structural integrity
As soon as the home inspector spots the first sign of water damage on the walls, you can bet that he would make an immediate beeline for the foundation. Water is harmful to the foundation and more so, in the long run. Often, repairing the foundation can be quite expensive which is why most sellers would tend to go in for cosmetic work to hide the issue altogether. But on average, to repair the damage would cost anywhere from $500 to $20,000.
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Roof damage
Most inspectors tend to expect signs of roof damage, especially if the house in question was built over ten years ago. And during the period, the roof had been facing various elements, from sunshine to winter storms. So it is but natural for inspectors to expect to find broken shingles, loose trims and even falling rafters on the roof. As a seller, you need to understand something – that an inspector’s visit is always bound to locate some issue or the other. So there’s no point in getting beat up over the impending inspector’s visit to your home.
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HVAC issues
A home’s HVAC systems are considered essential, one that every home inspector is bound to check out first, before anything else. It should be pointed out that an issue with HVAC systems needs to be rectified right away. And that if it is allowed to go from bad to worse, it could well turn out to be a deal killer. And that’s why you need to make sure that your HVAC systems are repaired and working perfectly, in time for the inspector’s visit.
The inspector’s visit is crucial as most buyers insist on a home inspection contingency as part of the purchase contract. So take the remedial steps needed, to resolve the issues right away.
