Buying a house is a lot of work. Years of hard work to save up for the asking price; a series of visits to potential properties to find the “one”; and a whole lot of pre-purchase inspections.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know in what exact shape the house is in before you buy? Can you do your own inspection? If not, how do you get the most out of a building inspector?

In today’s blog post, we’ve collected the top tips to make sure you are getting the home you have paid for. Sound good? Let’s get started.

Pest Inspections

1. Go around the house and find out which areas provide conditions that are conducive to pests. Check for potential sources of moisture, examine dense ground cover like mulch or grass, and find out how close clutter and garbage are from the house.
2. Take a look at sensitive spots like plants near the structures, man-made ponds or swimming pools, pets and their food sources, as well as drains in the yard.
3. If the house is well-sealed, pests could not enter. Check the doors and windows for anything that’s fit loosely. Also observe cracks in the foundation, any damaged vent, as well as leaks in electrical and plumbing lines.
4. Hire a qualified termite inspector to examine the property for pest activity or infestation.

Pre-purchase Inspections

1. Leaking roofs are considered a material defect, meaning it has a significant, harmful and unfavourable impact on the safety and value of the house. There are real hazards to inspecting the roof covers, gutters, downspouts, vents, and other part connected to the roof so you had better entrust this task to an insured, experienced, and qualified inspector.
2. Observe the type of exterior walls used in the property. If uncertain, ask the inspector to describe it to you. Look at all exterior doors; go over the walkways and driveways; carefully watch your step at stairs, porches, patios and decks
3. Investigate the foundation and the access to under-floor space for indications of water penetration, movements, cracks, and anything that poses a safety hazard.
4. Leave HVAC, electrical and plumbing inspections to the Pros. Ideally, a trusted building inspector will recommend additional inspections if they are needed.
5. Ask the homeowner (i.e. seller) to remove furniture or any coverings like carpet or rugs so you can examine the floor structure. A less invasive way to do this is to feel a bounce in the floor and place a marble on it to check for uneven level.
6. Don’t forget to look up and inspect the ceilings for stains, moulds, loose or cracked plaster, and embellishments used to mask its real condition.

Reading these tips might have taken you less than five minutes — but remember that the actual inspection can or should take longer.

Take your time and ensure that you don’t skip any crucial area while inspecting a property you wish to buy.

To double your protection, you can hire a professional inspector to do this job. At least this time, you know what to look for and you can come along during the thorough inspection.

Have any of these tips been particularly helpful to you in the past? Or have you just found out about these for the first time? We want to hear from you.

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