For Some Homes, Specialized Home Inspection Is Crucial
For many homes, a general professional home inspection is enough. Especially for homes built within the last two or three decades, the house inspection standards developed by the American Society of Home Inspectors for general home inspection is enough to uncover defects that need to be discussed with the seller.
But for many other homes, such as old homes, homes with in-ground swimming pools and homes with older septic systems, a regular home inspection conducted by a general house inspector, although professional and certified, is not enough. A specialized house inspection is essential.
Take the case of a couple who thought they have bought their dream home for a bargain price, as their general home inspection went well and their house was certified as a good buy. But several months later, the swimming pool gave out and the trees surrounding the property were dying from disease. The couple reluctantly spent almost $10,000 to restore the pool and to bring some of the trees back to life and to remove the most diseased among them.
The problems related to the swimming pool and the trees illustrate the importance of specialized home inspection. The costs you will spend for special house inspectors will give you priceless benefits in the long run.
If you are buying an old home, such as homes built in the 1920s or prior years, you must hire a special house inspector experienced in conducting home inspection for older homes. Older homes can bring about problems such as drainage problems due to packed coals and gas leaks due to abandoned pipes.
Homes built before 1980 can also cause problems related to septic systems. A HouseMaster house inspection specialist is advising prospective homebuyers to spend up to $500 to have the septic system dug up and pumped out for evaluation.
For houses with swimming pools, prospective homebuyers should hire home inspection specialists who have received training or certification from the National Spa and Pool Institute. The inspector should examine the pool’s ladders, expansion joints, diving equipment, pool covers, pumps and filters.
If you are buying a home advertised with a heated swimming pool, your home inspection specialist should make sure the pool’s heating system is working.
