Home Inspections and what to look out for before you put your home up for sale.  

While home buyers are as individual as the homes they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath
the surface as it appears to be.  Will the roof end up leaking? Is the wiring safe? What about the plumbing?  These, and others, are the questions that the buyers looking at
your home will seek professional help to answer.  According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection.  We’ve identified the 11 most common of these and, if not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 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.

There are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. Here are 11 you should know about if you’re planning to put your home up for sale.”

11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection

❶ Defective Plumbing.
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.

❷ Damp or Wet Basement.
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 to $5,000-$15,000. You will have to weigh these figures into the calculation of what price you want to net on your home.

❸ Inadequate Wiring & Electrical.
Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service, and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper or aluminum.  Home inspectors will look at octopus plugs as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.

❹ Poor Heating & Cooling Systems.
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.

❺ Roofing Problems.
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.

❻ Damp Attic Spaces.
Aside from basement dampness, problems with ventilation, insulation and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold and mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to premature wear of the roof, structure and building materials. The cost to fix this damage could easily run over $2,500.

❼ Rotting Wood.
This can occur in many places (door or window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences). The building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present – especially when wood has been freshly painted.

❽ Masonry Work.
Re bricking can be costly, but, left unattended, these repairs can cause problems with water and moisture penetration into the home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged by fallen bricks or even a chimney which falls onto the roof. It can be costly to rebuild a chimney or to have it re pointed.

❾ Unsafe or Over fused Electrical Circuit.
A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on the circuit than was intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in a typical home, with larger service for large appliances such as stoves and dryers. It can cost several hundred dollars to replace your fuse panel with a circuit panel.

❿ Adequate Security Features.
More than a purchased security system, an inspector will look for the basic safety features that will protect your home such as proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the doors, smoke and even carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom and on every level. Even though pricing will vary, these components will add to your
costs. Before purchasing or installing, you should check with your local experts.

11 Structural/Foundation Problems.
An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing and foundation of your home as structural integrity is fundamental

Before putting your home up to sale, those are the 11 most problematic issues that come up during a home inspection and with this list you can warrant off those issues before a buyer does a home inspection on your home and to make the process go much better and have a win / win on both sides.

Lets talk Real Estate.  Questions?  I’m here to answer them all.

Sloan Van Mierlo

Re/max

ph: 416-986-2121 text me

Email: sloan@sloansellsrealestate.com

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Toronto Home for Sale

Toronto – According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether. 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.

To help homesellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled “11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection” has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

To order a FREE Special Report, visit https://call4169862121.4homeinfo.com/inspection or to hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-844-997-0755 and enter 5003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn’t cost you the sale of your home