You Can Do Your Own House Inspection if You Are Prepared
If you have been doing major do-it-yourself projects and if you are confident about your skills in house inspection, you can conduct your own home inspection before buying a house. Just make sure you are prepared for the house inspection and remember to hire a licensed house inspector if you find something that needs professional house inspection before signing any contract.
It helps a lot if you inspect the property together with the seller so you can ask questions. But show that you are serious about defects by taking notes and using house inspection tools.
Your inspection tool kit includes an electrical tester, flashlight, screwdriver, binoculars, camera, tape measure, square and your clipboard for taking notes. Also, download a house inspection checklist from a reputable home improvement web site and study it. You can use this checklist as your guide in your house inspection.
You can start your house inspection outside the house. Examine the walkway, driveway, stairway and porch. Check grading, landscaping, windows, exterior walls and doors. Observe also the adjacent house if it is not causing a problem. Check the roof using your binoculars. Check the gutters, downspouts and drainage.
You can start your interior house inspection in the basement. Check joists for decayed wood and look for evidences of leaks, such as white residues on concrete. Check the foundation if the mortar is deteriorating.
Next inspect the heating and ventilation systems. Check maintenance records for the boiler or furnace and the water heater. See to it that plumbing pipes are made of copper or plastic because these materials resist corrosion. Galvanized pipes easily crack or corrode.
As you examine the other parts of the house, check the alarm system and the number of smoke detectors. Examine rooms and closet spaces. Rooms used to access other rooms should not be counted as bedrooms. Open and close windows and doors. Check lighting systems and electrical outlets.
Also, remember to check water pressure upstairs by flushing toilets, turning on faucets and checking sinks upstairs.
Check also estimates for recent repairs or upgrades. You can ask the seller for receipts and other related documents.
After completing your house inspection, start negotiating with the seller about the repair of specific defects or the reduction of the asking price.
