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A detailed home inspection checklist has recently been launched by the Senior Home Safety Network (SHSN) as part of the company's services designed to make sure that seniors living in their residences are safe. The company's service also helps keep children of senior people free from worries with regards to the wellbeing of their parents.

The latest services aimed at senior dwellers are part of SHSN's several offerings. The firm has regional units in 42 U.S. cities, which makes it easier for clients to get in touch with them and seek their help, particularly if these clients are worried about the safety of their elderly parents or grandparents living on their own.

As part of the senior services, the company will provide assistance in identifying safety hazards at the home where the grandparents or parents are living. They will also inspect other security concerns at the premises that can affect the value of the property and make sure that the dwelling is in good order and in a suitable condition for seniors to get home to, particularly if they had been away from the house for a certain period of time.

Part of the home inspection checklist of the company is making sure electric wirings and plumbing systems are in good order and that areas that are in need of renovation or repainting are taken care of. Problems that can cause safety hazards are the primary focus though, as most senior home dwellers might not be aware that a simple change within the house can cause accidents and unwanted consequences.

According to the founders of the company, their inspectors are all certified and have proper training in terms of identifying and solving home-related safety concerns. These inspectors also have certified clear criminal records and are instructed to follow practice standards that cover privacy and network reporting requirements.

SHSN has revealed that its primary mission is to assist senior citizens and their families in their quest to provide quality of life to elderly people aging in place. They further added that the home inspection checklist was developed by people who have had experience of taking care of senior family members and they know what is needed in situations such as this.

Home Inspection Checklist

There could be times when your mortgage lender, homebuyer or agent requires from you a special type of home inspection. Your area could have been plagued by a disaster in the past or your area is prone to a certain condition, highlighting the need to ensure that your home is free from certain home defects.

Among the areas most commonly addressed by special home inspections are the following:

1. Roof

The life of roofs varies from about 25 to 50 years, depending on the type of environment it has been subjected to and on the type of material used, such as concrete tile, clay roof tile, shingle, slate, wood shake, metal, composite or tar and gravel.
The inspector should evaluate the surface, sides and lines of the roof. He should note conditions that lead to leakage problems and possible violations of roofing regulations.

2. Structure

The home inspector determines whether the structure of the home could withstand earthquakes. The inspector ensures that load bearing walls, shear walls, frames, foundations and roofs have been properly built and installed. He looks for cracks and misalignments that could indicate signs of weakness in structure.

3. Termites and Other House Pests

Infestation signs that the inspector should look for are mud tubes on the walls and wooden parts of the house, winged insects coming out of wooden parts and the presence of dark blisters in wooden floors. Some construction mistakes that attract termites are incorrect drainage, contact between the ground and wooden parts of the house, wooden debris in concrete parts and form boards left in the flooring.

4. Plumbing

Galvanized steel piping commonly corrodes within ten years. The inspector should check for leakage in the piping system and in the valves.

5. Electrical Wiring

Home inspectors should look for wiring installations that do not conform to electrical wiring regulations.

All the items above should be included in your home inspection checklist when buying or selling a home.

Home Inspection Checklist

Experts agree that a seller should conduct a home inspection before putting his property on the market to expedite the sale and set a realistic price on the house.

Home buyers, especially those who are planning to purchase a foreclosed home, always perform a new home inspection before closing the deal.

Whether you are the seller or the buyer, it is advisable that you hire a home inspector from reputable home inspection companies.

However, a seller can also perform his own inspection to aid the inspector which he plans to hire later. A home inspection checklist is needed to ensure that no areas or hot spots were left out during your do-it-yourself inspection.

• Look for molds and mildew. Chances are houses with molds and mildew will not interest any buyer. Whatever kind of mold it is, be it the normal variety or not, the source should be eliminated immediately.
• Mildew odors and molds indicate that there is too much moisture in the basement. And moisture attracts insects and hastens the deterioration of building materials.
• To help control the spread of moisture in the basement, cover exposed earth and small spaces with a plastic.
• Check for possible water leaks due to poor drainage system. Clean the gutters so as not to hinder the flow of rainwater towards the downspouts.
• Rotted or moist roof coverings or shingles means that you will need to have them repaired before the first real estate agent or buyer tours the property.
• Ensure that water cannot seep through the flashing around the chimney’s base.
• If you can, fix leaks and other plumbing problems.
• Make sure that the circuit breaker and electrical panel configuration are adequate for the requirement of the house.

Now, despite doing everything to get your home in a good condition, a home inspector still saw some defects and damages and noted them on his home inspection report. Do not be encouraged if this will happen because it only means that you have hired an efficient home inspector.

Home Inspection Checklist

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