Between the searching, financing, and moving, buying a home is stressful. Once you've found the perfect home, no one can blame you for wanting the process to be completed as quickly as possible. However, there's one very important thing standing in your way: the home inspection. You might be tempted to gloss over the report, but it can contain extremely valuable information about the home's potential for future expensive repairs. Keep reading to learn about a few of the most important items to pay attention to in the home inspection report.
1. Old Oil Tanks
If the home is heated with gas, make sure to have the entire property checked for an old, buried heating oil tank. If there is one, check that it has been filled in so that there is no risk of collapse. In fact, some localities require that old tanks be removed completely prior to selling the home. Also, keep in mind that some homes might have more than one tank on the property.
2. A Leaky Roof
Issues with the roof are responsible for 39% of homeowners insurance claims, so be sure to resolve any problems before closing on the home. Even if there are no problems with the current roof, it is worth having the inspector estimate its age to give you an idea of the potential for future problems.
3. Poor Water Drainage
Perhaps the biggest threat to a home is water which sits near the foundation. In the short term, this issue will often result in water damage to the basement, while in the long term it can cause structural damage to the foundation. Gutters and spouts are the home's first line of defense against water, so be sure that they are functioning properly and drain water away from the house.
4. Chimney Trouble
Even if you have no plans on using it, make sure that the chimney is structurally sound before purchasing the home. Repairs to prevent the collapse of masonry can be very expensive if they aren't caught early. Of course, most people plan on using their chimney at some point, making this one of the most important safety issues in the home inspection report. Take no chances with poorly maintained chimneys, as they can easily lead to a house fire!
These are just a few of the most important items to pay close attention to in your home inspection report. If you would like to read about more key issues to watch out for, check out this article from Curbed.com.
