8 Common Problems Found in Home Inspections
8 MOST COMMON HOME INSPECTION ISSUES
Getting a professional San Diego Home Inspection before buying a house is a must. Here are 8 Common Problems discovered in San Diego home inspections and how to proceed.
1. Foundation issues
Almost every house has “settling” of some kind. The weight of the home causes it to settle into the ground over time, and most structures have hairline cracks somewhere in the basement. While most cracks discovered are not a big deal, others can indicate a more serious problem.
Depending on a number of things, when several symptoms appear simultaneously, or if an experienced inspector has any doubt about the kind of cracks they see, they may refer you to a foundation engineer who can provide more information on whether or not they are dangerous to the structures safety or value.
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2. Mold
While some molds are quite common and raise no issues for true concern, others may appear in areas where they shouldn’t and some of them area capable of causing more serious health concerns.
If black mold is present in a home, it’s almost always indicative of a larger, more serious issue. It could be present from a plumbing leak or a more persistent and continual water intrusion.
Mold usually warrants further review and if it’s not a small eaily accessible amount, it would be wise to seek the advice of a professional mold remediation company. Your goal is to both remove the immediate threat of exposure, and also ensure that it wont return later on down the road.
3. Water damage
Standing water, or evidence of previous water accumulation, where it should not be, is a sign to look for when purchasing a new home.
roof or skylight damage, drain damage, or the entire plumbing system may need to be replaced. If water infiltrated the house at some point, and you’re going to want to further investigate.
Often, the only sign of a water issue may be something as small as a water stain on the ceiling. While this may not appear to be much of a concern, it could be indicative of a much larger problem during a rain storm or at different seasons throughout the year.
4. Roof problems
There are many signs to look for when it comes to a roof inspection. When a professional home inspector sees one or several of these signs present, depending on the specific issue, it could be the sign of potential costly repairs.
While there is no such thing as “The Perfect House,” an urgent roof repair could be a concern worth further evaluation. Furthermore, no roof lasts forever. The average life expectancy of a quality rook is usually somewhere between 15-30 years, but this may vary greatly by the area in which the house is located. Often times, a qualified home inspector should be able to tell you how many years of life are left in your roof. If it’s less than three to five years, it may be something that’s negotiated with the seller.
Depending on the size of the house and the type of roof you want, a new roof can range in price from $15,000 to $150,000.
Roofs can be expensive, and viewing it from the curb or outside only, it would be tough to truly assess the condition of the roof and it’s supports.
5. Heating and Cooling System, Furnace issues, HVAC Systems
A new furnace will usually cost between $3,000 and $6,000. If a furnace is broken beyond repair, or approaching the end of it’s life expectancy, it would be wise to know this before entering into negotiations for a home purchase.
Often times, when a certified home inspector sees signs of decay, weak performance or any other signs of concern, they may suggest a more In-Depth evaluation. This could be as simple as hiring an HVAC company to do a simple service and inspection. Usually these are a small cost to incur to better understand a vital piece of your homes comfort creating system. In many parts of the country, the furnace is a vital part of the homes safety.
6. Termites or Vermin
Mice and Termites are not an uncommon issue. On the small-scale annoyance, a few traps and some monitoring is all that’s needed. On the large scale concerns, they could literally be eating through the wood structure of the house and could require further remediation or treatments.
Both mice and termites have remedies that can often be addressed before the completion of the sell.
Ridding the house of termites or mice is the first step. Replacing any damaged areas is the second step. Again, these are both issues which can be resolved fairly quickly. Then you need to monitor to make sure they don’t return.
7. Faulty Wiring or Age of the Electrical System
Wiring systems often have small concerns. But finding old, outdated, inefficient or unsafe electrical issues is a concern worthy of immediate attention and repair.
Expansive wiring repairs can be costly, sometimes requiring walls to be breached or entirely torn down. The proper repairs are always recommended, and often an experienced electrician is best in advising the prospective buyer of what’s needed. If your expert home inspector sees any signs of melting, black marks near outlets, exposed wiring or other signs through the use of their specialty tools, then further review is often suggested. While rare, it sometimes does happen during a quality home inspection.
8. Poor Grading And Drainage Around The Home
Water damage is a serious issue. If the grading isn’t done correctly or has changed over time, an experievced home inspector should notice and call out the areas of concern. As it can occur anywhere on or around the house, it’s important to have a quality and thorough inspection completed prior to the closing of the house. If significant repairs are needed, it would show up in the report and could be negotiated in the closing.
Water damage can come from almost anywhere, but is most common when we see roofing problems, plumbing leaks, or poor exterior drainage leading to intrusion.
Water can cause structural integrity issues in foundations, it can cause wood rot, mold growth, or it can create an environment that allows termites to thrive.
If moisture, standing water, or dripping is seen in the crawlspace, it would be recommended that a professional who specializes in restoring and remediating water damage come out to assess and remedy the issues and their causes, or simply quote the cost of the repair work.
We’ve seen water issues become major and costly issues in short periods of time. We’ve seen signs of water leaks and water intrusion that have led to thousands of dollars in repairs. Some of the signs are almost unnoticeable, but an qualified home inspector is trained to notice these things, and through years of experience, they’re often able to make suggestions that could save thousands in both the immediate and not-so-distant future.
The "Perfect Home"
It’s been said that there is no such thing as “The Perfect Home.”
That being said, it’s important to remain objective and complete your due diligence in making an informed decision regarding your real estate investment. Because it is an investment.
A recent survey from the California Association of Realtors® shows the following statistics when it comes to home inspections.
Very few home inspections come back completely clear. Here are the most common problems uncovered in home inspections.
- Roof 19.7%
- Electrical 18.7%
- Windows 18.4%
- Gutters 16.9
- Branches overhanging roof 13.3%
- Plumbing 13.6%
- Fencing 12.6%
- Water Heater 12.2%
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, entrance landing 11.9%
- Air conditioning 9.9%
We hope that this information helps in better understanding the process and what to look for in a home inspection and also helps in choosing the best home inspector for the job. If you have any questions regarding the process, our qualifications or would simply like to schedule a home inspection, please give us a call at 760-455-4978, or feel free to use our online scheduler at the link below. We hope this helps and we look forward to assisting you in your real estate transactions.
We hope the above information helps explain some of the
Top Reasons
Home Inspections Fail.
Contrary to what many people believe, there is no grading in home inspections.
Nor is it a “pass or fail” system.
The home inspector evaluates the condition and quality of the home and reports the findings and opportunities for improvements.