Home inspections are a natural part of selling your home. Unfortunately, they don’t always turn out in your favor. If you are having your home inspected, make sure to keep an eye out for these four critical areas.
Structural Issues
Some of the biggest issues for which you should watch out during your home inspection are those having to do with the structure of your home. These aren’t things that can be fixed with a little paint or even some light renovation—if there are foundation problems or issues with the walls of your home, you might be looking at spending serious money just to get your home back up to shape.
Anything Electrical
It’s also a good idea to be on the lookout for anything to do with electricity in your home. On one hand, you’re rarely going to interact with home inspectors who specialize in electrical systems. On the other, though, anything that looks even remotely like could be a problem will get reported. You should absolutely make sure that everything is not only up to professional standards, but that all of your electrical systems look pristine.
Plumbing Systems
Your plumbing systems are also another area that could end up causing you problems. Potential buyers aren’t just going to care about whether you have leaky pipes—they’ll also want to know that your hot water systems are capable of bringing them hot water at a moment’s notice. If your systems are not set up correctly by the time of the inspection, you’re going to have to pay to bring them up to the standards prized by potential buyers.
Your Roof
Finally, you’ll need to be wary of your roof. While a roofing inspection tends to be fairly basic, any issues with the roof are an automatic red flag to buyers. Having someone come out and check your roof before you put the house on the market is the best way to determine if you need a total replacement or if a quick fix might actually do the job. If you leave it to the buyer’s inspection, you’ll almost certainly have to deal with the more expensive option.
Always remember that the problems found during a home inspection aren’t just problems with your home—they are potential deal-breakers for anyone who wants to buy your house. As such, it’s always a good idea to be wary of these problems and to identify them before you put your house on the market. An ounce of prevention, in these cases, really can save you from having to pay for a very expensive cure.
