There are over 5 million homes sold each year in the United States.
If you are going to sell your house, you should prepare it for a home inspection. One place that we don’t often go to that a home inspector will go to is the attic.
Most people don’t make a habit of going up into their attic, and so they have no idea what is going on up there. Home inspectors will check every part of the house that they can get to, and the attic has several things they will be looking for.
Your Attic
The attic of your home is useful for several reasons.
In the old days, and still in some areas, people use attics as additional storage. This isn’t as common as it once was, but the attic has still other functions. It helps insulate and regulate the temperature inside a house.
The attic is the space between the roof of your house and the top floor. In some houses, this area is developed and can be lived in. In a majority of houses, however, the attic is not suitable for habitation. This is one of the reasons why they are rarely looked at or used by homeowners.
The Home Inspector and Your Attic
When you have a home inspector coming to look at your home, they will check for a couple of key things that are going on in your attic. Those things include wiring, insulation, and the structural integrity of your roof.
Each one of these areas is important, and the potential buyer will want to make sure that everything is in order. Having a bad report on a home inspection can impact the selling price of your home. Let’s break down the most common areas that a home inspector will search for and what they are looking for.
1. Wiring in the Attic
Many houses have wiring that goes through the attic. These wires will be checked to make sure they do not pose a fire hazard. The home inspector will make sure that they are in good condition and can be reached.
Make sure that you don’t have home insulation over the top of your wires. This could build up to dangerous amounts of heat and could turn into a fire hazard. Also, make sure the wiring is in good condition and is properly ran throughout the attic.
2. Vents in the Roof
There are various types of vents that help airflow through the attic of your house. This is important in many homes because it prevents the build-up of mold. If you have paint chipping away around your roof vents, make sure you get that replaced. Check for water damage and ensure that no mold is growing up there.
If you find something like mold, make sure it is cleaned in a way that removes all of the mold. Leaving even just a little will cause it to come back with startling speed. You will want to make sure that when the home inspector comes by, you have already dealt with this issue.
3. Insulation in the Ceiling
Homes need to be insulated, it doesn’t just lower energy bills, but it protects the house itself.
Frequent and wild hot and cold swings in temperature can cause lasting damage to a home. Having proper insulation in your attic is essential in keeping your home comfortable.
For most homes, you will want between 12 and 15 inches of insulation.
4. Water Damage
If your roof has any leaks, it will be very noticeable inside the attic. This is because the water damage will be exposed, sometimes long before it reaches a part of the house you would notice. If you inspect your own attic and discover any water damage, you need to get it cleaned up.
The other problem with having water damage in an attic is that it means your roof is leaking. Home inspectors check roofs to make sure that there aren’t any problems. A leak is a big problem, and you’ll need to get a roofer out to fix it or fix it yourself.
The inspector will search the roof for various problems. Look through this list and make sure you made these repairs as well.
5. Structural Integrity
When the inspector goes up into your attic, they will search for any sign that the house is not sturdy. Beams and rafters that are bowed or warped will be visible during their inspection. If you have this kind of damage, it could be necessary to undergo and expensive repair process.
Damage of this kind will also make it very unlikely that a potential buyer will be able to receive a loan for the house. No bank is going to want to shell out the money for a home that has significant structural issues. The home inspector will find those issues, and they will go on the report.
Home Inspections Protect Everyone
Home inspectors do their job so that a potential buyer is not surprised by significant repairs as soon as they move in. They are also able to provide a report that indicates these problems, which are then reviewed by the real estate agent, the buyers, and even the bank.
If you fail to pass an attic inspection, it’s not the end of the world. Most of the things that they find will be easy to fix, and it is common for a buyer to either ask for repairs to be done or do them themselves. Only the most serious issues will derail you from selling your house.
Be Honest and Get Prepared
Follow a home inspection checklist and get prepare for your inspection. Make sure that your attic, basement, and all areas of your house are ready to be checked. Doing this will save you time, money, and stress in the long run.
You want to sell your house, and the home inspector is there to make sure the buyer knows what they are getting into. Don’t take it personally if something comes up that needs to be repaired. Remember, before you buy your next house, get it inspected.
Schedule an inspection today!