Before purchasing a home, scheduling a house inspection is an important step in evaluating the property’s condition. However, you might wonder if there are things you can look for while touring properties to ensure that you select the best possible home. Knowing what you can and can’t do during a DIY house inspection is essential, as you’ll still want to schedule a professional house inspection once you find a property you love.
Here are a few things you can do during your own DIY house inspection before contacting a pro:
- Exterior Inspection: Walk around the property to check the foundation, siding, and roofing. Check for cracks, water damage, and missing shingles. Also, if possible, examine the gutters and downspouts to see if they are functional.
- Inspect Windows and Doors: Feel for drafts while also looking for decay or problems opening and closing windows and doors. Well-sealed windows and doors can reduce energy costs, whereas poorly insulated windows or doors can lead to discomfort and higher energy bills.
- Check Water Pressure: Turn on faucets and showers to test the water pressure and drainage. Flush toilets to ensure they work correctly, and check for leaks under sinks.
- Examine Electrical Outlets and Switches: Look for scorch marks or buzzing sounds, which could indicate an electrical problem.
Once you have found a home you want to invest in, here’s what a professional house inspection should include:
- Structural Assessments: Identifying structural integrity issues, such as foundation difficulties, requires specific tools, skills, and knowledge.
- Roof and Chimney Inspection: Walking on a roof can be dangerous, and chimney problems are best assessed by licensed inspectors.
- HVAC System Analysis: Testing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems requires technical knowledge to identify inefficiencies or problems.
- Electrical System Inspection: Aside from inspecting outlets, leave full evaluations of wiring, breaker boxes, and load capacity to qualified inspectors.