Things about Your Home an Inspector May Not Check

Home inspectors are hired to check homes for a variety of issues. They need to check for faulty construction, poor insulation, improper electrical wiring, building permit violations, heating and cooling issues, and any issue that causes you to pay a hefty amount in repairs.

Although they’re supposed to inspect for problems, big and small, they may not check everything. Yes, they’re thorough in their examination, but even they may miss a few things. Here’s a list of things that your home inspector may have missed:

• The Roof

Home inspectors will often climb onto roofs to look for missing or warped shingles and to inspect gutters are in good shape. While many will do this, some will not, particularly if the home is more than three stories tall and if the roof is too steep.  Sometimes, it may be necessary to hire a roof specialist if you suspect there may be issues or if an inspector says to or if they say they did not check the roof. If snow is covering the roof, inspecting it will be even more difficult. You can add a special provision allowing you to extend the roof inspection process when the weather improves.

• The Chimney

If your home inspector suspects structural damage, consider calling a chimney specialist because your home inspector won’t examine it. The chimney specialist will come with a small video camera to put down the chimney to inspect it for problems or hidden damage. A normal house inspector will only be looking to large obstructions in a chimney, such as a bird’s nest.

• The Area’s Geological Conditions

Suppose the house you’re interested in is located on top of a cliff or hillside or in an area prone to flood or other natural disasters. In that case, you need to hire an inspector specialized in performing a geological inspection as a normal home inspector isn’t’ equipped to do this sort of inspection. Someone specialized in the field will look for severe ground shifting or drainage issues. This could save you a lot of money in the future.

• The Sewer

Your home inspector may tell you if there is an issue with the plumbing, but they aren’t qualified to pinpoint the source of the issue. You’ll need to call a sewer inspector to inspect the sewer line using a camera to find breaks or cracks. 

If the home you like is heavily landscaped, call a sewer inspector over, as the chances of a root growth clogging or cracking the pipeline are high. If you don’t get it inspected, it could cost you a lot of money down the line.

• Mold and Mildew, Moisture, and Toxin

You would think that the home inspector would check for mold and mildew, moisture, and toxin growth and buildup in the home. However, they often won’t, and you may have to yourself. You need to check for moisture in the basement, crawlspace, and any areas below ground level. While they won’t actively look for it, if there are obvious signs of it, which isn’t good, they’ll often point it out. Just be aware that you aren’t paying them to look for this.

You need to ensure there’s no mold and mildew growth by calling a proper professional to inspect the house for it. This is especially true for any home located near a lake or ocean.

• Asbestos

You only need to check for the presence of asbestos if the home you’re interested in was constructed before 1975. You’ll need to contact an asbestos inspector who will inspect the water hearts, insulation around the ducting, and pipes because a regular home inspector won’t look for this.

After the home has passed the necessary inspections, it should be ready to move into, unless you have construction projects you had in mind first. If home renovations are what you’re after, don’t forget that we offer home improvement loans. After living there for a few years, give us a call for refinancing to see about lowering your interest rate.