Did you know the average home inspections cost between $300-$500?
It’s no wonder that you want to make sure your home passes its inspection on the first try to not lose out on a potential sale.
Are you prepared to pass your home inspection?
These 7 little things that fail a home inspection can prevent from you earning a good report.
F Is for Failing: 7 Little-Known Things that Fail a Home Inspection
The point of a home inspection is to make sure there are no issues with the home. It’s as important to the seller as it’s to the buyer. Passing a home inspection means that there are no serious issues.
Failing an inspection means that the inspector found something the seller or buyer has to repair or replace in the home. Be prepared for an inspector to go through everything in the home. There are a few common things that fail a home inspection.
1. Structural Issues
The foundation of the home has to be in good shape in order for the rest of the house to be safe. The foundation is more than likely the most critical piece of what makes the home structurally sound.
Foundation problems can come from geological issues, bad craftsmanship, or water damage. A professional inspection is usually the only way to catch a structure issue on time before a terrible accident happens. They won’t be able to fully determine what is the exact solution to the problem.
Major structural issues can easily have buyers walking away from a sale.
2. Termites or Pests
Buyers don’t want bugs or pests in their homes. In fact, this is so serious that Veterans loans require a termite inspection to be performed on all home purchases. This is great to know before moving in because termites don’t just go away they will continue eating a home which will lead to worst problems in the future.
Same goes for other pests such as mice, rats, and ants. No one wants these in their homes. Luckily these are easier to rectify than a termite invasion.
3. Moisture in the Basement
Since basements are below ground level water intrusion is a pretty common issue. A damp basement can cause the concrete, brick or stone to spall. And it can cause mold.
If there is water in the soil it puts pressure on the basement walls. Over time this will cause a wet basement.
4. Radon
If there is decaying uranium in the soil a radioactive gas called radon comes up. This gas causes lung cancer which is why a potential buyer will walk away from the sale unless it’s fixed. The only way to find radon is through a test because you can’t see it smell it.
5. Water Issues
Having proper drainage is needed for the integrity of a home. Water can lead to erosion and to mold inside the house. Sometimes water issues can be fixed with a new gutter system or fixing the drainage.
The key with water issues is catching them and correcting them before the damage is worst.
6. Asbestos
For a very long time, asbestos was used for building because it was considered an ideal building material. Once they discovered that the dust from asbestos can stick in a person’s lungs and stay there causing cancer it was not used for building anymore.
If the home is older there is a chance it could still have asbestos inside of it. Luckily there are professionals that can safely remove it. This is not something you want to attempt yourself because if you produce dust and breathe it in you can have terrible consequences.
Asbestos used to be used as an insulator of plumbing pipes and also in some types of flooring tiles. It usually becomes a problem when it’s in poor condition. If the asbestos is still wrapped or not damaged it’s usually not a big concern.
7. Electrical Issues
This can be a common issue in older homes when electricity was just becoming a common thing in homes. Older homes were not always wired to handle all the electricity modern technology requires. If this is a problem in the home it can be a fire hazard.
Not being able to handle the electricity required can also lead to failures in appliances or the electrical system which are not fun to deal with. Keep in mind that the home doesn’t have to be old to have an electrical problem.
Some common wiring issues may include but are not limited to:
- Reverse polarity of outlets
- Wiring that’s not grounded
- Double tapped breakers
A problem found in homes built from the 1880s to the 1940s is knob and tube wiring. This type of wiring has been discovered to be quite faulty. The dangers from this type of wiring come from how old it is and when building insulation envelops the wires.
Knob and tube wiring doesn’t have a ground wire either which means it can’t service any 3-pronged appliances.
Pass Your Home Inspection Like a Pro
A failed home inspection can be one of the biggest obstacles when trying to sell a home. It’s important to be aware of things that fail a home inspection to avoid a house sale from falling through. Thankfully almost any problem is fixable on a failed inspection.
If the issue is mold you can remove it and treatments can be put in place to prevent. If it’s an electrical issue an electrician is able to get on the job and fix it. Point is there is a solution to most failed inspections.
If you’re looking to avoid a home inspection nightmare check out our article with tips to help you.