Advice for Home Sellers Who Are About to Go Through a Home Inspection

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When people are looking to buy a new home, they usually have a home inspection done before they go through with the sale. This process does not take a lot of time, the average inspection of a home takes between one and two hours, but can be very stressful. Home inspectors look at a lot of things in a house and will inspect all of the different systems that are located in the home. While home inspectors have to look at everything, home buyers are really only interested in a few areas.
Here are a few fixes you can do to help your home pass an inspection:

  1. Take care of any mildew or mold before the home inspector shows up. These substances are huge red flags for anyone working for a home inspection services company. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been able to isolate thousands of kinds of mold. All can be dangerous to human health. It will be hard to sell your home as long as there are many kinds of mold hanging out in your home. In the best case scenario, after mold or mildew is found in your home, you will be required to pay for an expensive mold remediation service to get rid of it. The more likely outcome will be that your house will fail its inspection.
  2. Take care of crawlspaces and basements that may be too damp. Walk around your home and pay attention to what your nose finds. If you are in your basement and you smell mildew, the space is too damp. Mildew and mold love damp places where they can move in and make a home for themselves. If you have overly damp crawlspaces or basements, you need to dry them out to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Once you have dried the area, take steps to keep it dry. Put down plastic and fix any problems with your foundation that may be causing your basement or crawlspace to become damp. There are some other things you can and should do to keep water from collecting in areas where you do not want it.
    • Make sure your gutters are clean and your downspouts are working properly. When gutters become clogged, water can pool around your foundation. When downspouts do not push water away from your home, the same thing can happen.
    • Make sure any pipes or lines under your property are working properly, You can talk to a plumbing company about this process.
    • Deal with any foundation problems. If there are problems, you should have repairs done. If you cannot make the needed repairs, you will have to let interested buyers know about the problems and you may have to lower your asking price.
  3. Check out your chimney and roof. Home inspectors are going to look long and hard at your roof and chimney if you have one. Make sure the roof is in good shape and any shingles that need to replaced have been. If you live in a state that requires home inspectors to do a separate inspection on the home’s roof, this is even more important. If you have a chimney, the flashing should be checked to make sure it is snug and totally waterproof.
  4. Deal with any issues with your plumbing. Leaks should be fixed before a home inspector shows up. They often take a look at the water pressure in a home. One way this is done is by turning on several faucets and then flushing your toilets while the water is running. When they inspect the septic system by placing a dye in the water. They then look at your septic system to see where the dye shows up. If you have any issues with your septic system or the plumbing in your home, you need to have professional plumbers fix them before the house is inspected.
  5. Make sure your electrical system is working well. You need to make sure your circuit breaker and electrical panel need to be sufficient for the power needs of the home.

Building inspectors take at least 500 data points per inspection. Fixing any problems can make your home more appealing to homebuyers.

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5 Homeowner Tax Breaks You Should Be Taking Advantage Of

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2019 comes with some tax reform and specific changes that you and your CPA should be aware of. Regardless, there are specific tax breaks you as a homeowner should be taking advantage. The tax changes did not affect these write-offs, but it is always good to check with your accountant before assuming you can receive a credit for anything.

Interest on home-improvement loans

The IRS considers the interest on a home-improvement loan fully deductible, up to $100K in debt. So if you’ve been holding off on making those home changes, consider using a loan so you can write off the interest. In addition, interest paid on a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is also tax-deductible. However, keep in mind that any home loan that is worth more than the value of the property is not deductible.

Property Tax

You might think all of your property taxes are deductible, and in most cases you would be right. Though, there are some specific things on your settlement document that might look like taxes but aren’t. You cannot deduct your attorney and appraisal fees, title insurance and credit report costs either.

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

If you made efforts to make your home more energy-efficient then you could qualify for the energy-efficiency tax credit. This credit includes solar, wind, geothermal and fuel-cell technology. So, if you installed solar panels, solar-powered water heaters, wind turbines or geothermal heat pumps then you may qualify for this tax credit.

Non-business Energy Property Tax Credit

In addition to the major energy-efficient renovations, you could also qualify for the nonbusiness energy property tax credit. This would include more minor upgrades to the home, such as home insulation, exterior doors, exterior windows or certain roofing materials.

Home improvements for medical purposes

This is an interesting one and many times overlooked. If you made any home improved that were related to a medical necessity then you can deduct the cost of the home improvement under medical expenses. Let me give you two scenarios in which this could be applicable:

A first time homebuyer has to remove all the carpets in their new house because the carpets were so full of pet dander from the previous owners. As a result, the new homeowner was having asthma attacks or trouble breathing. Removing the carpets and replacing them (with whatever they choose) would be deductible under medical expenses if you can provide documentation proving the medical issue.

In another scenario, and elderly woman had an accident and fell in her shower. She broke her hip and would be in recovery for months. Medical recovery prevented her from climbing stairs or climbing into a bathtub. The issue was the only walk-in shower she had was upstairs on the second floor. As a result she had to remodel one of her down stair bathrooms into a walk-in shower. This could be deducted under medical expenses as long as she provided all necessary documentation.

We hope all this information was helpful as you work on your tax return this year. Don’t forget to check everything with your accountant. And don’t forget to hire Divinity Inspection Services for your residential or commercial property inspection needs. 

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When To Schedule A Walk Through And When To Skip It

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Every home buyer encounters love at first sight when they are on the hunt to purchase a home. At least once you will find yourself drooling over pictures of what could be your future house. However, pictures can most certainly be misleading and your time is precious. So before you jump on the phone to schedule a walk through with your realtor, take a second look at those picture. Here are some specific home defects you can look for.

Spacing can be a giveaway

The most popular pictures for selling a home is using a wide scope. This has become a trend in the last few years. And while a wide scope can help give you the full picture of a room, it can also really misshape the space of the room. The house could seem much bigger than it actually is. This is when you encounter disappointment after taking the time to schedule a walk through.

Before you put the house on your calendar take another look through the photos. One way to check the spacing is by looking at items and the distance from one to another. For example, if you are looking at a wide scope picture of a kitchen then you can look at the distance between the appliances. Even in a wide scope photo this should be a pretty good giveaway of the actual space.

Look at the walls and ceilings

In most photos you will have walls in the backgrounds. Sometimes the photos will include the ceilings. Here you can check for any major cracks, discoloration or stains. I wouldn’t make any assumptions based on what you see, but if you do spot a major concern then it could be a dead giveaway.

In many cases, new paint will cover any discoloration that would elude to water damage or mold. You don’t need to worry because if there is any, we’ll find it in the home inspection.

Landscaping can also give you clues

You may be surprised at what you can find in the pictures around the home. Many people overlook clear signs of standing water, flooding or other damage. For example, you may see on the outside of the house a line of debris. This is usually an indication of high water. The house could have problems with drainage.

Also take a look at Google’s satellite image of the neighborhood. Do the neighbors take care of their lawns and homes? This is minor but could be an indication of the kind of neighborhood the house is situated in.

Don’t let pictures deceive you. These homes waste your time and energy when there are many homes you could fall in love with. However, don’t be afraid of any undiscovered concerns. By hiring the right home inspector, you have nothing to worry about.

3 Key Areas Looked at During a Commercial Building Inspection

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commercial building inspectionWhether you’re looking to buy or sell a building or just want to make sure everything is up to code, a commercial building inspection is always a good idea. While about 90% of U.S. homeowners agree that home inspections are a necessity, building inspections are just as, if not more, important. So if you own a building and are looking to schedule an inspection, here are a few key areas that will be looked at by the nationally certified master inspector.

Interior walls: Even if the building looks fine on the outside, there could be a lot of warning signs of problems on the inside. Signs of poor ventilation, mold or mildew, and water damage will be looked for during the inspection. Additionally, commercial building inspectors will check all of the windows, doors, and stairs along with the walls and ceilings. Overall, the inspector will give the entire interior of the building a throughout examination.

The roof: One of the most important aspects of a building is the roof. Without a proper roof, the building, and everything inside, could easily become damaged. This is why checking out the roof is an important part of a commercial building inspection. The inspector will look for damaged or missing parts of the roof and they’ll also look for water damage or buildup. Ensuring the roof is in good shape is an important step to ensuring the rest of the building is too.

Plumbing and HVAC: Besides the building itself, there are also a few key components within the building that are looked at during an inspection. Two of these components are the plumbing and the HVAC systems. When it comes to plumbing, the inspector will look at the water supply, fixtures, drainage, and overall installation of the pipes to be looked at. And as for the HVAC system, any furnaces, boilers, and vents in the building will be tested to ensure they work properly.

There are several different parts of a building inspection to ensure the building as a whole is in good condition. So if you are looking to sell or buy a building, make sure you schedule an inspection with a reputable company.

4 Reasons Why You Absolutely Need A Home Inspection

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home inspection servicesThere are many necessary costs that come with buying a home. Realtor and lawyers fees can take a lot out of you and you might be tempted to look for ways to save money. One of those potential ways is to skip your home inspection.

But 90% of U.S. homeowners say that a home inspection isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. And we agree. Here are four reasons why you need a home inspection before you officially buy your house.

  1. Home inspection services keep you safe. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Without a home inspector, you can’t tell if your potential home has high radon levels. A home inspection detects safety issues like radon, carbon monoxide, mold, infestations, and other hazards that give you the option to cancel your offer to buy the house.
  2. Home inspections can reveal illegal additions. A house with illegal additions that weren’t permitted impacts the property’s insurance, taxes, usability, and value. You could be buying a piece of property that doesn’t legally exist.
  3. Home inspections protect your investment. You’re investing in a house not only because you’re ready to settle down in the neighborhood but also because that house will build equity over time. A home inspection determines whether or not you really will be making any money on the house or if you’ll be losing it to major repairs like mold removal and plumbing replacements.
  4. You get an accurate estimate of future costs. Part of being a homeowner means making repairs on areas of the house when needed. Home inspection services can determine how old your furnace is, how old your roof is, what the quality of the property is, and more. These factors inform your choice of home insurance coverage and warranties.

Where can I find home inspection services near me?

The average home inspection takes between two to four hours to conduct. In that time, a building inspector can save you thousands of dollars by finding issues that you might not have been able to find until after you bought the house.

The home inspection services of Divinity Inspection Services can give you the peace of mind you need whether you’re buying a house or investing in commercial property. To learn more about our new-construction inspection and commercial property inspection services, contact Divinity Inspection Services today.