6 Things that a Home Inspector Should be Checking

Buying a house is one of the major financial decisions of your life. If you have decided on the house you want to purchase, a key step before completing the process is to get it checked by a home inspection is intended to focus on the bigger picture and help you buy a suitable house for living. Here are a few things which a home inspector must check while inspecting the house.

• HVAC system

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) might be working when you go for inspection, but to check its overall life expectancy, the home inspector must check the following:

• Access panels
• Heat-exchanger in the furnace unit
• Thermostats
• Ductwork
• Fuel-burning fireplaces and stoves
• Vent systems, exhaust systems, condensing units, and chimneys
• Insulation and vapor retarders
• Refrigerant lines, cooling, and heating equipment
• Roofing

Roof problems are very costly and time-consuming; your inspector must check the roofs carefully. He should find out how old is the roof of the house and how much repair work has been done on it. They must check the structural integrity of chimneys too. They are a costly endeavor and must be properly checked.

• The interior of the house

The home inspector must check the entire interior of the house in his home inspection. The home inspector must check the wooden floors for moldy growth or soft areas indicating wood rot from the flooring. Flooring is amongst the most important parts of the house, and its well-being must be properly inspected. The home inspector must also check the windows, doors, walls, ceilings, installed kitchen appliances, countertops, and so on.

• The exterior of the house

Outside the house, the main structures that must be inspected by the home inspector are exterior doors, balconies, driveway, garage, porches, patios, eaves, retaining walls, and other exteriorly visible structures.

• Plumbing

This is a major component of the house and must be checked diligently. Water is something a person will regularly use in the house; issues in its disbursement or drainage can cause multiple problems. The home inspector must look at the water heaters, fixtures and faucets, drain, waste and vent systems, pumps, and sewage ejectors. Their proper functioning will ensure a satisfying plumbing system of the house.

• Electrical system

The inspector must check the entire electrical system of the house to ensure proper working of it. The main components which have to be looked into are Service drops, conductors, raceways, and cables. A home inspector must also check the interior components of the service panels and subpanels, the conductors, circuit interrupters, the light fixtures, panels, and the overcurrent protection devices.

You must hire a qualified home inspector for your home inspection after thorough research. A quality professional will do his job accurately and help you in buying a safe and suitable house.