What To Look For Before Your Home Inspection

Buying a home is a long process, filled with paperwork and multiple people. However, as you search for your first home, there are a few things you can look for before your home inspection. These things, if you find them, might eliminate the chance for surprises.

Look around the home

You will need to go beyond the aesthetics and into the nitty gritty. There are a few tell-tale signs around the home that you might not notice if you weren’t looking for them.

• Water stained driveways could indicate potential flooding
• A backed up gutter system (if you’re able to see it) could indicate the reason for flooding or be a sign the homeowner isn’t take proper care of the home
• Look for proper drainage around the home
• Look out for foundation cracks, which would be big cracks from the bottom to the top of the home

Check out Systems

This may seem like an obvious one, but you might be surprised to learn many people do not look at a home’s system. This includes things like:

• The water heater
• The air conditioning
• Turn on all faucets to look for leaks and check water pressure
• If fireplaces are present, ask if they work or have ever been used

Ask as many questions as you would like

Don’t be afraid to ask any questions about the home. Either the homeowner or the real estate agent should be able to answer them or find an answer for you. The more questions you ask, the more likely you won’t have any big surprises. Ask the hard questions:

• Have there been any major issues with the systems in the home?
• Does the homeowner expect any potential major repairs with the home currently?
• Does the pool have a leak?
• Have there been any roof issues? How old is the roof?

They may tell you all of these questions can be answered during your home inspection, and of course they can. But, if you can get some of those answers ahead of time, why not? Don’t wait to spend your money on a home inspection to find out details you can get now.

We here at Divinity Inspection Service strive to help all our clients feel as comfortable as possible during the home inspection process. You can always call us to ask questions before your home inspection. Schedule your inspection here!