Going To Buy a Home? Take a Look!
by Margo S Morgan Your real estate match makerBuying a home can be one of your
most significant investments in life. Not only are you choosing your dwelling
place, and the place in which you will bring up your family, you are most
likely investing a large portion of your assets into this venture. The more
prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying
process will be. The goal of this page is to provide you with detailed
information to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision.
Remember, if you have any questions about the process, we’re only a phone call
or email away!
HOME INSPECTIONS
Inspections are designed to help
you understand the overall condition of a property, potentially saving you
considerable time with the purchase process and hundreds or thousands of
dollars in repairs. Some of the inspections which may be required or
recommended by your real estate professional are:
- Standard
Home Inspection
- Radon
Inspection
- Termite
Inspection
- Asbestos
Inspection
- Composition
Board Siding
- Lead Paint
Inspection
- Onsite Waste
System Evaluation
- Pool / Hot
Tub Inspection
- Private Well
Flow and Potability Inspection
- Stucco
Siding Inspection
- Underground
Storage Tank (UST) Inspection
Obtaining
the proper inspections for a home prior to purchase is one of the best ways to
make a smart purchase decision and protect your investment.
STANDARD
HOME INSPECTION
The areas which may be covered include lot and grounds, roofs, exterior surfaces, garage/carport, structure, attic, basement, crawl space, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, plumbing, fireplace/wood burning devices, and appliance condition. Remember that your inspection rights are clearly stated in the Contract for Sale and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some cases homes can be sold “as-is” even though an inspection may take place.
RADON INSPECTION
Radon levels are detected and measured. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that between 15,000 – 22,000
deaths per year result from radon exposure, therefore they recommend that all
homes be tested for radon. EPA recommends that homes containing 4.0 or more
Pico Curies per liter be remedied.
TERMITE
INSPECTION
A termite inspector will inspect the property for
the presence of wood-destroying insects (WDI) or wood destroying organisms
(WDO, i.e. fungus) and conducive conditions that exist. Inspection requirements
vary by state.
ASBESTOS
INSPECTION
Lab analysis will determine if asbestos fibers are
present and evaluate their condition. If friable or non-friable conditions
exist, buyers should seek professional assistance.
COMPOSITION
BOARD SIDING
The condition of the siding and any areas of high
moisture are evaluated during this inspection. Typically, composition board
siding is a paper-based product that is manufactured to replicate traditional
wood siding at a fraction of the cost. Homeowners recently brought class action
lawsuits against some of the larger manufacturers of this type of product. The
homeowners claimed that the siding was susceptible to water penetration, which
caused premature deterioration and rotting. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, some of the most commonly known manufacturers of composition
board siding are Louisiana Pacific (LP), Georgia Pacific (GP), Masonite, and
Weyerhaeuser.
LEAD
PAINT INSPECTION
Painted surfaces of a home can be evaluated to
determine the presence of lead paint. Homes that were constructed before 1978
may contain lead-based paint. Lead exposure can be harmful to young children
and babies. Children with lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the
brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, slowed growth,
hearing problems, and headaches.
STUCCU
SIDING INSPECTION
There are two types
of stucco siding to be aware of: cement-based “traditional” stucco and
synthetic stucco. An inspection of the siding’s application according to
manufacturer’s installation specifications is recommended. Synthetic stucco
siding is commonly referred to as Exterior Insulated Finish System (EIFS).
- In
considering a home with stucco exterior, we recommend an inspection be
conducted to determine the condition of the siding.
- Synthetic
stucco is predominately found in the Southeast but it is present in homes
in other areas of the country as well.
- Hidden
structural damage has been documented in synthetic stucco homes in 34
states.
- Moisture
readings are taken to determine if the system has already experienced
water intrusion.
ON-SITE WASTE SYSTEM (SEPTICHEKTM) EVALUATION
SeptiChekTM is an evaluation
performed by an on-site waste management professional. It involves accessing
the cover of the septic tank to examine the fluid level inside the septic tank.
The tank is then pumped to check the condition of the tank and its baffles. The
leaching field is probed to check the level of sub-surface liquid waste
(effluent). This test alerts the buyer to a wide range of potentially costly
septic system repairs or failures. The SeptiChekTM evaluation
provides more reliable information of potential problems than a septic dye
test.
POOL
/ HOT TUB INSPECTION
Determines the overall condition and operability of
a pool and/or hot tub’s equipment. Additionally, the condition of the pool deck
will be inspected for deterioration and/or other noticeable defects.
PRIVATE
WELL FLOW AND POTABILITY INSPECTION
Designed to determine whether or not a private well
adequately supplies water to the house. Samples are sent to a lab for
potability (drinkability) analysis.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK
(UST) INSPECTION
The most common
methods for testing a UST, typically used to store oil for heating homes, are
either the soil test or vacuum test. The soil test consists of random core
samples taken around the location of the tank and submitting them for lab
analysis. This will determine if any product has contaminated the soil at that
particular area and to what extent. The vacuum test consists of having a
technician seal off and place the tank under a vacuum. Readings are
periodically taken to determine whether or not the tank is losing its vacuum.
With this test immediate results are available for the buyers.
- Since USTs
are predominately made of metal they rust and corrode over time, causing
hazardous materials to contaminate soil and potentially aquifers that
supply drinking water to surrounding communities.
- The majority
of UST problems occur in the northeastern states due to the older
properties located there.
- Obtaining the proper inspections for a home prior to purchase
is one of the best ways to make a smart purchase decision and protect your
investment. The above is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all of the
types of inspections that may be necessary on a particular home, but it is
meant to provide general information on some of the most common types of
inspections.To
know more Please Visit Morgan
Realty and Management Services Inc.
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Created on Jul 25th 2019 05:13. Viewed 350 times.