PICTURE CAPTIONS
1 - Failing PTR valve
2- Dishwasher Air Gap Diagram
3- Improperly attached deck ledger board
4- HVAC maintenance needed
5- Gutters that need cleaning
6- Appliance Shutoffs
7- CSST Bonding
8- corrosion on appliance
9- safety glazing in bathrooms
10- Deck Ledger Fastening
The Importance of Home Inspections: Why You Should Get One Before Buying a House
Contributed by Ian Dorman, Pika Home Inspections
A home purchase is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll ever make. It’s an exciting journey filled with dreams of a new beginning, and that's the problem. Buying a home is akin to falling in love. Because falling in love is always risky, and we may have a tendency to overlook or not want to see major red flags, everyone needs that one friend who’s brutally honest. Enter the home inspector. Our job isn’t to be a Debbie-downer, but a splash of cold water. No home is perfect, and a home inspector’s job is to keep you safe physically, financially, and yes, emotionally. A home inspection will pay for itself in saved time, and money and provide peace of mind. Here are just some of the benefits of getting a home inspection: Safety First
First and foremost is safety. As a home inspector, I consider myself a public safety officer. Here is a brief list of some less-than-obvious safety issues that most people wouldn’t consider:
Back-drafting gas-fired appliances (Breath in deeply your water heaters bad breath and die in your sleep. At least it's painless.)
Inadequate bonding of flexible gas line (CSST) to the electrical system. (an electrical current accidentally makes contact with the gas line, causing a hole and a gas leak that builds over time in the crawlspace. And then BOOM!)
A gas range that doesn’t vent to the outside (It’s like a car exhaust blowing in your kitchen, right in front of where you stand.)
Water heater with a failed temperature pressure relief valve. (Someone call spaceX because you have a rocket and that skylight you always wanted!!!)
Poorly attached deck ledger (Turn that summer backyard sorey into the Megadrop! You throw one hell of a party.)
Safety glazing of the windows near the soaking bathtub. (Hot water, relaxation, a good book, and large cascading shards of artery-slicing glass!)
A home inspection could save the lives of you and your loved ones and is a huge return on your investment. Just ask Wall Street what the ROI is on avoiding death!
Uncover Hidden Issues
So, you walked through the house and loved the layout, the kitchen cabinet space, the stainless appliances, and the view of Pioneer Peak from the hallway bathroom toilet (weirdo), but you don’t look at what I look at. I see windows that are too small for emergency service personnel to rescue you during a fire, kitchen cabinets that can't be opened without bumping into each other, a dishwasher without a vent at the sink that will lead to flooding in the kitchen, and yes a loose toilet flange that leaks sewage onto the ceiling drywall in your child’s future nursery below. You shouldn’t be worrying about these things. You should think about how this home fits your family’s lifestyle and needs.
Sellers don’t always list everything, whether by forgetfulness or omission. A home inspection grants you peace of mind, knowing that a diligent eye has thoroughly investigated the home. You did your homework; you’re ready for the test of home ownership.
Useful Reference
At the end of a home inspection, you should have an actionable well-documented report. What I mean by actionable is that it can be tossed over to a contractor, and they will understand what needs to be repaired or evaluated.
It’s like a homeowner’s user manual, repair list, and report card in one. The report should provide you with:
An itemized list of future routine maintenance, such as servicing of the HVAC systems, wood-fired chimney sweeping, and cleaning of gutters.
Notice any high-cost future repairs or replacement items, such as appliances nearing the end of their useful life, or exterior paint needing refinishing.
Identification of shutoff valves and switches, important to know when there is a leak or earthquake and you need to shut things down in an emergency.
Easily communicated deficiencies, what's wrong and why it’s important, and how to fix it.
The report should be able to be copy pasted to generate a repair addendum. It should be organized logically and concisely so that contractors can locate and understand what needs to be repaired.
Negotiation Leverage - save thousands
Buyers have used my reports to lower the final price of their homes by thousands! The seller has benefited from the house for x years, you shouldn’t pay for the ware and tare, and deferred maintenance. If you’re paying the asking price, then you should be expecting mint condition. Use a home inspection report to get a fair deal. A home inspection report has more gravitas than a buyer's opinion, especially one with certifications, training, and extensive professional experience.