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Home Inspection Tips for a Better Inspection Experience

A quality home inspection is a significant part of both Property Buyers and sellers transactions. The best home inspections go beyond inspecting the structure, systems, and components of your home by also providing the opportunity for you to learn more about your property and how to maintain your biggest investment. Here are our home inspection tips to help you get the most out of your inspection:

1. Choose the Right Inspector

Being a home inspector comes with a lot of responsibility. They have to stay current with laws, continue their education, know what to look for, and to be able to clearly communicate their findings to all sorts of people. You should do research into your home inspector before hiring him or her to perform your home inspection. Looking at previous customer reviews for the home inspectors you are considering is an important part of our home inspection tips.

Ask home inspectors about their inspection experience, about their training, and what jobs they performed before becoming a home inspector—it’s usually a good sign if they have a history in home renovations, building, or contracting. You’ll also want to choose a home inspector who you trust and who makes you feel comfortable. This person will need to be able to clearly convey important information to you.

2. Don’t Skip Your Home Inspection

You don’t have to attend your home inspection, but it’s highly recommended that you do so. You won’t need to be there for the entire process (in fact, that could slow the inspector down), but you should be present at the end so that your home inspector can explain things to you that you might not catch simply from reading your home inspection report.

Many home inspectors welcome questions, even after the report is in your hands and the inspection is over. While the inspection report should include plenty of photographs, some issues may be discovered that will be easier to explain and review in person.

All too often, homebuyers make the mistake of assuming that just because a home is a new construction, it won’t have any defects. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Whether it be from faulty workmanship or simple human error, new construction can have problems, and it’s best to catch them as early as possible. Be sure to have a professional home inspector visit the site to provide an unbiased 3rd party point of view while inspecting your new home prior to your final walkthrough with the builder.

4. Take More Than a Glance at the Inspection Report

Whether you’ve attended the home inspection or not, you’re should read your inspection report thoroughly. The report should be easy to understand, contain recommendations for addressing any noted defects, and contain helpful pictures. If you have any questions whatsoever about your report, don’t hesitate to contact your home inspector so that he or she can offer an explanation. It’s crucial that you understand your home inspection report!

5. Prepare Your Home for the Inspection

The home inspector will need access to all areas of your house, including the basement and the attic, so make sure that it’s going to be easy for them to get in there. Another home inspection tip is to provide keys to any locked entryways so that the inspector isn’t locked out of an area to be inspected.

Take Your Home Inspector’s Recommendations Seriously

As a buyer, your agent will help when it comes to negotiating with the seller about how to deal with any defects discovered by your home inspector. Still, some issues just don’t get resolved. In those cases, it’s going to be up to you to make sure that they’re dealt with before you close on the home. You may need to turn to a specialized expert for advice regarding how to deal with certain issues, such as an electrician or a roofer. Ask for a free estimate—it couldn’t hurt.

6. Don’t Skip the Pre-Listing Inspection

Our home inspection tips aren’t just for buyers! Sellers can get pre-listing inspections prior to putting their homes on the market in order to uncover any defects or safety issues that would later be found by a buyer’s inspector. By having a pre-listing inspection, sellers have the chance to make repairs and to present a better product that is more likely to get its asking price and to stay on the market for a shorter period of time.

We hope you find our home inspection tips helpful for your next inspection. Walton Inspection Services provides home inspections to all of Horry and Georgetown counties in South Carolina. To schedule an inspection, contact us.

Follow our Home Maintenance Tips for a Better Spring Season

With winter coming to an end and spring on the horizon, it’s important to start working on your home maintenance over the first few months of the new year. This usually involves fixing roof shingles from ice damage, clearing gutters, sealing damaged driveways, and growing new plants. To help you get ready for spring, here are a few home maintenance tips:

1. Service the AC Unit

As the weather turns warmer, you should have a certified HVAC contractor clean out your AC unit and determine if any repairs need to be made. Cleaning out the ducts, vents, and coils can improve system efficiency and prevent the need for costly repairs down the road. You should also be actively changing the unit’s filters with each season change. Check out sites like https://rapidrepairs247.com/ to hire a professional.

2. Inspect Roof Shingles

You should inspect your roof shingles after winter to see if any fell off or are badly damaged by ice or snow. If your roof is outdated, you should consider replacing the roof before next winter. An asphalt roof’s average lifespan is 15-20 years. Also, shingles that are loose or cracked need to be replaced immediately. The last thing you want to have are broken or loose shingles as the last line of defense to protect your home from ice, sleet, snow, and rain. Visit sites like https://roofplusnj.com/roofing-services-in-manasquan-nj/ for additional guidance.

3. Clear the Gutters

After inspecting your roof, you should next look over your gutters and clear out any leaves and debris that have collected over the past few months. A blog on www.littlesolitaire.com talks about how you should also check for leaks and cracks that you will need to repair in time for the spring. This one of the most important home maintenance tips since your gutters divert water from damaging your home and foundation.

4. Inspect the Concrete

You should inspect concrete around your home for cracks or signs of movement after the cold winter months. Exterior slabs of concrete, except for the pool deck, should drain away from your home’s foundation. If you do notice cracks, you should fill them with silicone caulk or concrete crack filler. And if you can, you should power wash the concrete and seal it to better protect it for the remainder of the year.

5. Check Outdoor Faucets

It’s important that you check outdoor hose faucets for ice and snow damage from the winter. You can do this by turning the water on and putting a finger over the opening. If you can easily stop the flow of water, there’s likely a damaged pipe that needs to be replaced. At the same time, you should also check on your garden hose and determine if you need to replace it or not.

6. Check out your Power Tools

Before summer hits, make sure you inspect all of your lawn equipment. Ensure your lawn mower, hedge trimmers, and other gas or battery-powered appliances are functional and ready for heavy summer usage. You should also clean your tools and sharpen any blades. This will make your yard work much easier.

7. Consider Colorbond Gutter Installation

If your existing gutters are showing signs of wear or if you’re looking to upgrade, consider Colorbond gutter installation. These steel gutters are durable and low-maintenance and come in a range of colors that can complement your home’s exterior. Spring is a great time to undertake this project before the rainy season picks up.

8. Trim Overgrown Trees and Bushes

This is another one of our favorite home maintenance tips that is often overlooked but can make a big difference. Trim the branches of trees and shrubs to keep them away from your home. Be sure to start early before the plants start growing leaves so you can clearly see each branch. All branches should be between five and seven feet away from your home. This will keep excess moisture from collecting on your siding and roofing. It will also prevent squirrels and other pests from scurrying across your roof and nesting in your home.

9. Use Compacted Soil

You should surround your home’s foundation with compacted soil. The same should be done in low areas in your yard. Springtime rains can lead to backyard flooding. This, in turn, causes damage to the foundation and basement flooding. Additionally, when water pools in low areas, it becomes a breeding ground for insects and pests. You can avoid all this by filling these areas with compacted soil.

Spring is a popular time to buy and sell a home, and when doing so it is advised to hire a professional home inspector. Walton Inspection Services offers home inspection services to Horry and Georgetown Counties. Contact us to schedule your inspection

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6 Important Home Inspection Tips