Inspecting a Home
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Article by: Jim O'Keefe Inspecting a House , Arborvitae - A Mult-Use Plant Before you buy any house, , Glass Sinks - 4 Unbreakable Rules of Buying a Glass Vessel S take the time to thoroughly inspect the structure and mechanical systems. Costly repairs , How To Slash The Cost Of Water Consumption... By Using can often be avoided or at least anticipated by a preliminary inspection before a purchase offer is signed. If the house , How To Build a Compost Bin is inspected before a purchase offer is made, you will know in advance if heating equipment, rewiring, or any other costly repairs , Gardening According To The Way Of Vastu or replacements will be needed. If defects are found, you do not necessarily have to reject the house. , Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother A purchase offer can include a contingency clause that identifies what needs to be corrected before the sale is finalized. Another option is to offer a lower purchase price based on the cost of correcting the problems. After an offer to purchase contract is signed (but before a loan is applied for or a title inspection ordered), a thorough inspection should be done. Some lenders require a mechanical and structural inspection by a qualified house , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? inspector. Even if a lending institution does not require such an inspection, you may want one. Reserve the right to cancel or renegotiate a purchase agreement if a professional inspection reveals significant defects. If you decide to hire a professional inspector, be there when the inspection is done. Follow him or her around. Ask questions. It is important to know what is being checked, why, and the condition of each area. TOOLS · Pencil and paper to record information , Planning A Serenity Garden on the house. , How to Design a Recessed Lighting Plan · Measuring tape (25 or 50 feet) to measure the dimensions of the house , How to Design a Recessed Lighting Plan and individual rooms. , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? (The measurements will show whether pieces of furniture , Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother will fit into specific rooms). Keep a file with the links that you visit and find valuable and you can write another article with just links to great places , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment to visit related to that topic. You can also use these to create a links page on your site. · Stepladder, if needed, for access to an attic · Flashlight with a strong beam for inspecting the attic, basement, , 12 Worst Trees to Plant in Your Lawn and storage areas with poor lighting. · Coveralls to protect your clothing when inspecting the attic or crawl space. · Ice pick or pocket knife to test the condition of wood , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden structure. · Hand level to check drainage of sidewalks, porches, , Marvellous May Plant Colour and basement floor , Gardening According To The Way Of Vastu and to see if the floors , Garden Shed - Using It as a Workshop or Craft Room are level. · Screwdriver to remove electrical faceplates to look for evidence of insulation and the condition of the wiring. (Turn off electrical power , Garden Furniture - A Touch of Exuberance to Your Landscape at fuse or circuit breaker box first!) · Three-prong electrical circuit tester to test receptacles. · Binoculars for inspecting roof , The Truth About Tulips shingles and flashing from the ground. INSPECTION PROCEDURE Walk around the outside , Building A Container Water Garden of the house , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? at least twice. As you walk, note specific areas that you need to inspect more carefully when inside , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden the house. , Baby Quilts – Traditional or With A Twist Look first at the foundation, drainage, and siding; the second time check windows, , Glass Sinks - 4 Unbreakable Rules of Buying a Glass Vessel S gutters, and the roof. , The Tools of Rose Gardening Once the outside , Investment Property - Leveraging Rental Property Equity inspection is finished, move inside , Marvellous May Plant Colour the house. , Tulip Care Start in the crawl space or basement , Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother and work up through the house , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship to the attic. Take plenty of time to look behind boxes, in dark areas, under cabinets, etc. The items listed below will help you do a thorough inspection. Use this list as a guide when inspecting any house. , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment The items do not include such personal preferences as interior , Turn Your Backyard Into A Personal Retreat decoration (color, carpet, , So You've Decided to Finish Your Basement! window , Berber Carpet. treatment, etc.) or the presence of optional equipment (air conditioning, security , Arborvitae - A Mult-Use Plant system, etc.) NOTE: The items are not listed in the exact order which you might follow when inspecting a house. , Decorating around the garden Answer YES or NO to as many of the questions as apply to the house , Marvellous May Plant Colour you are inspecting: Does the slope of the lot prevent water , A Look at Cheap Flower Deliveries from standing next to the house? Water-saturated soil , Hummingbirds ... Attracting Those Little Flying Powerhouses could indicate the lack of drain tile. , How To Slash The Cost Of Water Consumption... By Using Is there easy and safe , January Gardening Thoughts access to the lot? Is the lot safe , HOUSES WITH DAM(P) BASEMENTS WON’T SELL and convenient? Are there signs of septic field drainage problems? These may include odor of raw sewage, extremely soggy soil , Replace the White Birch With River Birches In The Doylestown Pa. Area over the drainfield, sewage discharged over the ground or in nearby ditches, broken or cracked white , Circuit breakers and fuses pipes that stick out of the ground, or an alarm , Replace the White Birch With River Birches In The Doylestown Pa. Area flashing or beeping in the house. , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? Are there enough electrical receptacles to meet your needs? Grounded receptacles have a third, round hole. Use a circuit tester to see if receptacles are wired correctly and are grounded. Does the house , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. have ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection in the kitchen, , Arborvitae - Plants for The Sellersville Pa. Area bathroom, , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors garage, , Building A Container Water Garden and outdoor , Planning A Serenity Garden circuits? Special GFCI receptacles can be identified by the "test" and "reset" buttons on the face of each outlet; GFCI breakers are labeled in the service box. If this protection is found in an older home, , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? it indicates that the electrical system has been upgraded. Is there visible electrical wiring in the attic, basement, , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors or garage? Note the type of wire used and its condition. As with the heating system, you may wish to have a professional check the electrical system. WATER SYSTEM AND QUALITY OF WATER Are the plumbing , Investment Property - Leveraging Rental Property Equity fixtures, especially in the bathroom , Container Gardening Tips For Newbies and kitchen, , Planning A Serenity Garden in good condition? Look for water , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors damage on the bottom of sink cabinets, around the bases of toilets, and on ceilings (below upstairs plumbing , So You've Decided to Finish Your Basement! fixtures). Check the water , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors pressure at the faucets. Turn on all faucets and flush all toilets at the same time. How long it takes the tanks to refill under these conditions is a good indication of the water , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship pressure. Are there a shut-off valves on both hot , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden and cold water , The Tools of Rose Gardening supply lines to all sinks? Look for signs of rust and leaks in the water , Choosing a colorful mix of perennials for the garden heater. Is there a pressure relief valve? Is there a private well? Has the water , Fine Gardening Secrets Revealed been tested? Acceptable water , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship quality can be a contingency in your purchase offer. You can get information , The Advantages of Canopy Gazebos on water , Replace the White Birch With River Birches In The Doylestown Pa. Area testing from your county cooperative extension center. For more information, , Baby Quilts – Traditional or With A Twist see Lead in Drinking Water, , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors or Removing Mineral Deposits from Household , Garden Furniture - A Touch of Exuberance to Your Landscape Surfaces, or Radon in Water, , January Gardening Thoughts or Health Effects of Drinking Water , Planning A Serenity Garden Contaminants, or Home , An Affordable Shortcut To Designing Your Dream Drinking Water , Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Propert Treatment Systems. SEWAGE DISPOSAL If there is a septic tank, is it in good condition? What is its age? Has it been pumped regularly at 3- to 5-year intervals? Are there any signs indicating faulty or inadequate capacity of drain lines, such as a slowly draining sink, or a toilet that backs up? APPLIANCES Do some appliances remain with the house? These may include a built-in oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, free-standing range, refrigerator, washer, dryer, , Garden Furniture - A Touch of Exuberance to Your Landscape and window air , Replace the White Birch With River Birches In The Doylestown Pa. Area conditioning unit. All should be tested for efficient and safe , Tree Pruning Tips operation. Ask the owner for any records of service and repair. , More Power to Ya INSECT DAMAGE Are there signs of wood , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. damage from insects? The most destructive insect is the termite, which eats the interior , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors of studs and joists. Termites may cause much damage before they are detected. Termite inspection is required by most lenders. Has the house , Gardening According To The Way Of Vastu been periodically inspected and treated for termites? Are there piles of coarse sawdust beneath the timbers? This may indicate the presence of carpenter ants. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood, , Good Credit Scores = ROI Profits For Real Estate Investors but they do nest in it. They are most likely to attack wood , Choosing The Perfect Flowers For Summer that has already begun to rot. These ants may also be heard within walls , Constructing Water s - A Guide to Common Mistakes and may even be spotted inside , More Power to Ya the house , How To Slash The Cost Of Water Consumption... By Using in the winter. , 2 Ways to Safely Transplant Rose Bushes of Any Age They are black and about 1/2-inch long. Do you see deposits of sawdust on the floor , Baby Quilts – Traditional or With A Twist and small pencil-lead size holes in wood , Gardening According To The Way Of Vastu beams and floor , The Advantages of Canopy Gazebos joists? This may indicate the presence of the powder-post beetle. To verify, check to see if the wood , Experience the ‘Magic of Christmas’ Without the Headaches crumbles when an ice pick or pocketknife is pressed into the beams, floor , 2 Ways to Safely Transplant Rose Bushes of Any Age joists, support posts, and sill plates. If there is some indication of the presence of termites, carpenter ants, or powder-post beetles, your purchase offer can be contingent on the house , Planning A Serenity Garden being free from infestation by these or other insects. You can ask the seller to pay the cost of a professional insect inspection and treatment; however, inspection is usually paid by the buyer. THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT Certain products , How to Design a Recessed Lighting Plan or pollutants in the indoor environment , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship can cause health problems. Asbestos, , January Gardening Thoughts carbon , 12 Worst Trees to Plant in Your Lawn monoxide, and radon are hazards that may be present. Lead, which can be present in water , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. or paint, , Baby Quilts – Traditional or With A Twist can cause health problems in children and during pregnancy. And some people are sensitive to certain products , HOUSES WITH DAM(P) BASEMENTS WON’T SELL or pollutants like formaldehyde and volatile organic , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment compounds. You may want to test for some or all of the following contaminants. Contact your local , Building A Container Water Garden health department or county cooperative extension center for guidance on testing. · Formaldehyde is often found in particle and other composition board, plywood, paneling, wallpaper, and permanent-pressed fabrics. · Asbestos , How To Slash The Cost Of Water Consumption... By Using fibers may be found in thermal insulation, pipe and duct insulation, vinyl flooring, , Container Gardening Tips For Newbies textured paint, , Garden Shed - Using It as a Workshop or Craft Room exterior siding, and appliances, stoves, and furnaces. Removal of asbestos , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. can be expensive and should be left to a professional. · Carbon , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment monoxide may be leaking from defective or improperly vented combustion appliances, such as furnaces, gas , How To Build a Compost Bin dryers, and gas , Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment heaters. These should be checked by a qualified heating system technician. Try to avoid the use of wood , Fine Gardening Secrets Revealed stoves or kerosene heaters. · Radon, a colorless and odorless soil , Pruning Your Orchid Plants gas, can travel from the soil , Choosing The Perfect Flowers For Summer to the foundation and then to the inside , Planning a Backyard Deck of a house. , 2 Ways to Safely Transplant Rose Bushes of Any Age It can have long-term health effects. If the house , Hummingbirds ... Attracting Those Little Flying Powers hasn't been tested for radon, you may want to ask the seller to establish an escrow account to cover costs of remediation, if necessary. · Volatile Organic , Plants For Establishing a Hedge in Doylestown Township Pa. Compounds are found in flammable and other household , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship cleaning and maintenance products. , A Look at Cheap Flower Deliveries You may want these products , A Look at Cheap Flower Deliveries removed before you take possession of the house. , Baby Quilts – Traditional or With A Twist · Lead may be present in house paints , 2 Ways to Safely Transplant Rose Bushes of Any Age used before 1977 and in the piping system at soldered joints. If you have small children and suspect the presence of lead, you may want to have the house , Choosing The Perfect Flowers For Summer checked. Removal of lead-based paint , Tulip Care can be costly. About the Author James O’Keefe is the owner of My Millionaire Friend. offering FREE articles, tips, , HOUSES WITH DAM(P) BASEMENTS WON’T SELL hints, and real-world advice , Gardening According To The Way Of Vastu on how to , What Makes a Hammock a Quality Hammock? make money with your website. Visit his site or join his FREE newsletter by sending a blank email to mailto:newsletter@mymillionairefriend.com. |
  
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