Home inspections in Northern VA are crucial to protecting your real estate investment in Virginia. However, the combination of structural framing, electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems can make it difficult to spot potential issues that may affect your purchase. For that reason, you will need a professional inspector to evaluate the entire property, inside and out, comprehensively.
The questions now are: what do you need to know about a home inspection? What will the inspectors look for? The answers to these questions and more are below.
What Home Inspectors Look For
Foundation
A home’s foundation is crucial to its overall stability and safety. Inspectors will thoroughly examine it to ensure everything is functioning correctly and free from any issues that could compromise the structure’s integrity. Inspectors look for settlement problems, cracks, and sloping and check for moisture and mold in crawl spaces that could damage wood supports.
Roof and General Construction Overall
Inspections check for leaks, damaged/missing shingles or tiles, moss growth, roof flashing, gutters, vents, attic ventilation, and skylights.
Inspectors may visually inspect roofs from the ground or climb up for closer inspection. In bad weather, they may use binoculars.
Plumbing
The plumbing inspection covers all aspects of water flow, including piping, showers, sinks, toilets, and more. Inspectors will also look for leaks, corrosion, and damage to pipes and examine walls, floors, and ceilings for signs of moisture, contamination, or cross-connection.
Electrical Systems
In an inspection, the inspector thoroughly checks the electrical panel to ensure compliance with regulations. They will examine wires, grounding, and amperage ratings. Switches and receptacles must also function properly, while GFCIs are required in most rooms for safety against electrical accidents.
HVAC Systems
When inspectors come to inspect a home, they will turn on the heating and cooling systems to make sure they are working correctly. They will also leave the system running during the inspection so they can check that it is operating at the right temperature and make sure that any parts are working correctly.
Final Words
If you’re considering buying a house, you should hire a professional home inspector. This inspection can help identify any hidden problems or potential dangers so you can feel safe and secure in your new home. By prioritizing a home inspection, you’ll also have all the details you need to buy or sell a home confidently.
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