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Home Inspection & the Home
by Mike ConleyA national survey conducted by a major franchise found that homes with a pre-listing home inspection sold in one third less time than comparable homes on the market. In addition, they sold for 3% to 9% premium sales dollars. What is a pre-listing home inspection? It is when the seller has his or her home inspected prior to listing it for sale and addresses or discloses all or part of the defects found.
Home buying is one of the biggest and most important investments anyone can make. A home inspection helps assure that an investment of this magnitude is a wise and happy one. An awareness of exactly what you are buying can help ease the anxiety associated with purchasing a home.
From the seller's point of view, an inspection sheds light on any hidden defects that might be present prior to the sale, when time is not a factor. Knowing in advance the condition of your home can save you time and money by addressing these issues well before the count down begins that leads to closing. Even if no problems are found, a home inspection can offer an opportunity to talk with a knowledgeable professional who knows houses, how the systems and components interact with each other, and how they go together. There are virtually thousands of components and hundreds of systems that make up a typical home.
Sellers should keep in mind that a home inspection is not pass or fail neither is it a building code inspection. Inspectors are also not concerned with good housekeeping. We are simply there to describe its current condition. Systems and components fail to a greater or lesser degree depending on quality of product, maintenance scheduling, upkeep, use or lack of use, age, and inevitability. In addition, there are positive aspects of a home that can be highlighted as well. Location, access, boatdock or seawall, oceanfront, bay front, swimming pool, remodeled kitchen or baths, energy efficiency. These all contribute to adding value to a home that should be weighed against any defects found.
Lastly, a professional inspector can offer tips on necessary maintenance to keep all systems and components in good working order.
An inspector knows how the home's many systems work together and can tell the seller how to minimize the damaging affects of sun and rain, heat and humidity, or lack of regular maintenance. On average, we spend about 80% of our time in our homes. This vital information can not only impact the home but may increase the future selling price, and will also impact our health and environmental quality of our home.
Water and the Home
by Herb LewisMany problems in the home always seems to come back to water. We need it to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Yet too much water in the wrong places, especially when it is inside our homes, is a nightmare.
Plumbing leaks from pinhole weeping in the cold water line or dripping faucets are an annoyance that is usually easily corrected. Sudden deluges of water caused by ruptured pipes or failed flashing in the roofing system can ruin your life for months.
It is not just the water itself we have to deal with. The result of too much moisture in our living space can lead to all types of unpleasantries. The word that seems to be of major concern these days is mold. Mold can not be stopped unless the water problem is corrected first. Then there are termites who need moisture to thrive and survive.
In modern, supertight, energy efficient homes we have created a new problem, moisture buildup. The moisture that is created as we go about our usual daily activities builds up and concentrates inside our homes. We have made our homes so airtight that moisture can not escape. Taking that long hot shower, cooking, even breathing; we create moisture vapor which builds up and becomes trapped inside our homes. It is amazing to walk into a beautiful home and find that warm moisture is condensing on the cool cathedral ceiling and raining onto your head. Older drafty, air leaky homes exchange the air more times per hour and are not as prone to have high moisture levels.
Fortunately there are some easy steps to lower the moisture buildup in our homes. When taking a shower turn on the exhaust fan to draw the moisture laden air out of the room. The same goes when cooking. The kitchen exhaust fan is not just for drawing smoke and fumes out; it will also remove moisture from the area. Try to avoid opening the dish washer just after the cycle ends. Allow the moisture to condense and drain out of the dish washer.
The truth about the lint hose on clothes dryers? It is much more than a way to trap lint. It is the way your dryer deals with moisture, by venting it outside the home. Which brings up another point. To work properly vents must exhaust the damp air outside. Unfortunately some vents only go into the attic or even into the walls, the moisture is still inside the house. If you are not sure where your vents go, trace your vents from the source. Start with your bathroom fans and make sure they exhaust into the great outdoors not just into the attic.
Whole house fans should be required on every home. These wonderful devices move a lot of air fast. They can draw in cool air at night cutting down on your cooling bill while removing moisture from your home. Do you have a basement that smells musty? A powerful exhaust fan just serving the basement can help change a cave cricket playground into an enjoyable living space.
Plumbing is amazing and has taken thousands of years to develop to its current state. It makes possible the healthy lives we lead. We take plumbing for granted until something goes wrong. Then we scream twice. Once for the plumber to come save us and then we scream again when we get the bill. Please note: a good plumber is worth every penny. Something that every person in your home should know is the location of the main water shutoff valve. Don’t wait for the plumber to get there. Knowledge is power, by knowing where and how to turn off the water you can limit damage caused by a leak.
One of the weakest parts of the plumbing system are the rubber hoses connected to the clothes washer. As soon as you finish this article go check this hose, especially if your washer is on an upper floor of your home. Feel along the length of the hose checking for any bulges or ballooning. If you find a defect in the hose, turn the water off to the washer and head to your local home supply center and purchase metal braided replacement hoses. Doing this one thing can prevent thousands of dollars of damage to your home and furnishings. All washer hoses should be replaced every four to five years, even the braided ones. It is some of the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Herb Lewis of Tennessee Building Inspection, LLC.
Providing home inspections for the most important purchase of your life. 615-335-3083
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