Are you planning to buy or sell a new home, or even build a new home by yourself? If your answer is yes, then you must consider hiring a professional home inspector for the proper inspection of your selected home. Nearly every home buyer hires a professional home inspection service provider to take a closer look at the condition of the house before closing. You can do this too to get an accurate analysis of the actual condition of a new house before you start the contract process.

A complete home inspection service will cover various systems within your house, but there are several hotspots which a buyer should be concerned with the most.

What will home inspectors look for during a home inspection?

Finding quality home inspection services can be daunting because people don’t entirely know what to look for in the full report and what things are expected to be there. Once you understand the following, then—fortunately—you will find that your home inspection report is very informative for you and can help provide the proper guidance whether the home you are going to buy is perfect for you or where you have to ask your homeowner to make necessary repairs or updates.

Here are some areas that every home inspection service provider should focus on:

1. Structural Integrity

A home inspector will check all the components of your house to make a perfect report of the faults which need to be repaired. For this purpose, they will climb your roof and/or inspect the foundation of the house. A home inspector will check all of the structural components of the house to understand whether the components are connected as per standard code, and to determine whether or not they are in perfect condition. For example, a home inspector may check to ensure that the ceiling around the electrical fixtures is clear from any kind of structural damage like water leakage, softened materials, etc.

2. Exterior Defects/Faults

Close examination of the exterior can help you to understand if things like additional caulking are required to stop water inflow. A home inspector will check for decay, rot, displacement, or cracks in the exterior materials. A home inspector will also inspect the gaps between the siding as well to avoid moisture damage. This portion of the home inspection is important to ensure that the home can withstand all environmental conditions.

3.  Roofing

In addition to the exterior home inspection, a roof inspection is important for home safety. A home inspector will examine the roof very closely by climbing on the roof or by using new drone technologies to identify any defects in shingles or tiles to ensure perfect tightness and fit—any flashing will be tested as well. Limbs of trees that come into contact with the roofing can cause scratches and can result in permanent damage to the roof, leaving it vulnerable to storms; thus, a home inspector should warn of any close or touching tree limbs. Any skylights or chimneys will also be examined for accurate sealant and proper functionality.

4. Plumping & Piping

Plumbing Inspection is one of the most important things home inspectors check. The damage of plumbing fixtures can be catastrophic and very costly if needing repairs. During the plumbing testing, a home inspector will look at all of the piping, including drains and waste systems of the house. Proper ingress or egress of water will be examined in this process. All of the drains will be examined for water leakage, fitting of filtration apparatuses, and mineral deposits. Some inspection service companies will also check the water for bacteria!

5. Electrical Components, Wiring, and Fittings

All of the electrical components will be checked for proper installation and functionality. A home inspector will ensure whether or not these are operating in a safe and working manner. Grounding equipment, panels distribution, and conductors will be checked sufficiently. In the electrical inspection report, the location of carbon monoxide and/or smoke detectors will also be described and identified.

6. Doors, Window Seals, etc.

A home inspector will examine the entire interior of the house, including doors, windows, trim, stairways, floor, cabinetry, counters, etc. Any of them which are not properly functioning will be mentioned on the inspection report. During interior testing, all of the home appliances which are built-in and included in your purchasing contract will be included in the inspection. The proper working of these appliances will be examined and noted.

The interior inspection of doors and windows are of concern with respect to HVAC performance. Leaking and/or loose seals on these fixtures can lead to bad energy consumption costs. The status of these areas will be mentioned in your report.

7. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling)

HVAC Inspection is a very important factor to consider. HVAC actually stands for “Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling”. A home inspector will look at all of the HVAC systems which are installed in the house, such as central cooling or heating systems, baseboard heat or furnace vents, etc. For this purpose, they will turn the appliances ON and will check their functionality; they may even let the systems run until they have completed the rest of the inspection to get a better idea of the performance. Having to replace HVAC systems is another sunken cost that should be avoided if possible.

8. Kitchen and Bathrooms

The inspector will examine the condition of sinks, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, drains, flushing toilets, shower pressure, water leaks, etc. Mold Testing is also an important part of this inspection to ensure the home is mold-free. A good home inspector will inspect all the areas of the house where mold is most likely to occur to be completely certain none is present. As you can imagine, mold presence in a home is a huge threat and can be very difficult to maintain and mitigate.

Final Words

The hiring process for a home inspection service may take some time, but it will certainly help save a lot of money in the long run! Now you know what to look for when determining if a home inspection service is necessary or worthwhile. Home inspectors will note all the major flaws that need to be fixed with a house to ensure the safety and happiness of the occupants. Although your house might look like it is in excellent condition, initial appearances can be deceptive. No home is perfect—therefore, to understand the exact condition of the home, hire a trusted home inspector.