Home Inspection Tips for Both Sellers and Buyers
Buying a house is serious business. Whether it's a recently built rancher looked at for quick flip or a history lover's rehab dream, finding out what's really going on "behind the walls" is one of the most important things a buyer can do to ensure they receive the ROI that is expected.
A great tool buyers have at their disposal is a home inspection. A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Home inspections are usually conducted by a licensed home inspector. Not only does it help educate a buyer about what they're getting into, but it also exposes where weaknesses are in a home.
A licensed and thorough home inspector when walking a home will look at house from top to bottom. That means they're inspecting everything from how water drains off the property to if shingles are laid properly on the roof and everything in between. They're looking for the holes, so to speak, so you have less surprises along the way.
One of the most common home inspection findings is electrical wiring. In fact, the main cause of many house fires are caused by faulty electrical wiring. While a modern home might have ample supply of power and electrical outlets, older homes do not. And electrical grievances can range from those in plain sight, like extension cords running from room to room, to hidden culprits like overloaded circuits that could lead to a fire, outdated fuse boxes, and missing GFCI receptacles.
Homes may also have improper wiring such as reversed polarity. This is when the "HOT" and "NEUTRAL" wires are placed on improper terminals on an outlet. And if that sounds scary, exposed wires are it's big cousin.
Once you get a home inspector, make sure they're doing a thorough job and by checking each outlet, breaker and fuse box. Their extra mile can save you tons of time and money in the future.
Has your current inspection uncovered some electrical issues? Give us a call, we'd be happy to help.
