According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection. I’ve identified the 11 most common of these and, if not identified and dealt with, any of these11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair.

In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for. And knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

So Let’s begin. Here are the 11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection

Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking and clogging.

A visual inspection can detect leaking, and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom and then flushing the toilet.

If you hear the sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes are undersized. If the water appears dirty when first turned on at the faucet, this is a good indication that the pipes are rusting, which can result in severe water quality problems.

An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral deposit a few inches off the floor and will look to see if you feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A mildew odor is almost impossible to eliminate, and an inspector will certainly be conscious of it.

It could cost you $200-$1,000 to seal a crack in or around your basement foundation depending on severity and location.

Adding a sump pump and pit could run you around $750 – $1,000, and complete waterproofing (of an average 3 bedroom home) could amount from $5,000 to $15,000.

You will have to weigh these figures into the calculation of what price you want to net on your home.

Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service, and this should be clearly marked. The wire should be copper or aluminum.

Home inspectors will look at octopus plugs as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.

Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a poorly functioning heating system, are the most common causes of poor heating. While an adequately clean furnace, without rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will be asking and checking to see if your furnace is over its typical life span of 15-25 yrs.

For a forced air gas system, a heat exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged -they cannot be repaired.

Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles (e.g. curling or splitting), or mechanical damage from a wind storm. When gutters leak and downspouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, this external problem becomes a major internal one.

I’ve discussed five of the 11 Costly Home Inspection Traps. For the rest of the 11 Things you need to know, you can fill out the form below or go to my website www.nancykowalik.com/inspection and fill out the form there,  or call 1-800-314-1371 and press 1003.

Here at Nancy Kowalik Real Estate Group, our team participates in continuing education and are up to date on all of the 11 High-Cost Inspection Traps You Should Know About Weeks Before Listing Your Home For Sale. 

Call us when you are looking to buy or sell a home.  856-478-6562 We will help you every step of the way!

And remember, the best way to avoid these home inspection nightmares is to always keep up with taking care of your home! It is your biggest investment and preventative maintenance is the best way to protect your investment.

Thanks for reading.  Make it a great day!

~Nancy