Purchasing your first home is an exciting and meaningful step in life, but it comes with various responsibilities and considerations. Conducting a thorough home inspection is one of the most crucial aspects of buying a house. This inspection ensures that you are making a sound investment and helps you avoid potential pitfalls down the road.
In this blog, we will walk you through a typical home inspection conducted by Pro Inspect. We do not use checklists in our inspections as every house is different. A thorough detailed home inspection is very different from a checklist. Not ticking off block we inspect and find the symptoms present in a home that could be an immediate issue or result in one in the future. We inspect the home as a unit made up of various connected components. Something visible in one place can result from a problem somewhere else.
A Home Inspection starts outside the property, and we work our way into the yard and then the house. We then inspect the following during a Home Inspection in
East London
The position of the house:
We inspect the position of the house relative to the gradient of the land. The condition of the curb and municipal roadway.
The roof:
The roof is the jacket of any house and is one of the most important structures of a home. Because it is often not accessible it goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. Roof problems very seldom just happen, they are usually slow processes where maintenance of the roof is ignored. We check that gutters are clean; flashing is functioning, roof screws are not rusted, and vegetation is not touching the roof in any way. We do not let a newly painted roof blind us from finding the defects. Home Inspection in
East London
East London’s climate and weather can present itself as rainy, windy and very hot in the same season and these changing conditions add to the stress on any roof structure. If you take care of your roof, it will protect you. Remember no roof is perfect and leak-free forever. Regular maintenance is the key to the longevity of any structure. That is why we recommend an annual roof inspection in East London.
Foundation and Structure
Inspecting the home’s foundation for any visible cracks or signs of shifting. Shifting is where walls pull away from each other or floor surfaces appear to be at different levels. Uneven floors or floors that are not level could indicate structural problems. These issues can be costly to repair, so it’s crucial to address them early on. With a home inspection, structural issues are identified, and remediation is recommended.
Plumbing
These are what we call hidden items in an inspection as they are usually hidden inside cupboards and walls. We check the pipes, the taps (faucet), pipe joints, valves and geysers with a Home Inspection in East London.
We even check what is happening inside the toilet and whether it functions properly. Toilets can be an embarrassment. We can prevent these issues
Electrical System
As a home inspector we do not issue any compliance certificates, we however do check the electricity supply points, connections, plugs and lights including receptacles (where the globes are plugged into). We check for safety issues and hazards that could cause harm to you and your family. We even check inside your ceiling and other accessible crawlspaces and the electricity connections in these spaces. Knowing about these hazards or concerns is an area of concern for a proper home inspection by Pro Inspect.
Pest Infestations
East London is a coastal city and with its beauty comes a variety of pests that can damage your property. We look for those critters that may be carrying your home away one grain at a time (ants and termites), or those feeding on your house (borer beetles), your investment being eaten! We call them WDO (wood-damaging organisms). Your roof structure is made of wood too, not only flooring and cupboards. When you buy a home, a legal requirement is the issuing of a “Wood Borer Certificate” before the transfer can occur. We at Pro Inspect look for all types of unwanted pests as well. Rodents, bats, birds as well as insects. Pests can cause costly damages and even create conditions related to your health.
Damp and Mould
Finding dampness and mould in any building is an indication of water intrusion from somewhere. Moisture can take the form of condensation against walls and ceilings from poor ventilation in a room. Moisture also penetrates building materials such as wood, bricks and cement plaster. and the material and the ideal environment are created for mould growth. This can be a health hazard in a home, occupants can develop respiratory ailments when exposed to mould spores.
At Pro Inspect, we attempt to identify the source of the mould and make recommendations on how you can get rid of it. Mould and moisture inspections are offered as individual inspections by Pro Inspect.
Windows and Doors
We do not inspect every door and window in a dwelling but inspect a representative number of windows and doors. Wooden windows that are poorly maintained are especially prone to weathering and hinges seizing up. We check the functioning of handles and latches, and whether the window and door open and close properly.
Security doors and gates are treated as a security and hazard risk for the occupants of the home. They are inspected for condition and functionality.
Appliances and Fixtures
We do not test appliances unless specifically requested in your inspection report. We then check that the appliances included with the property are in working order. Gas appliances, hobs, built-in ovens and extractor fans are tested for working functionality, condition and age.
Property Boundary
We do not check boundary lines but do note in our report if we find deviations from the norm on a property and recommend further enquiry from BCM. Always make sure you have the most recent copy of your approved plans for your property. This enables you to sort out disputes with council and neighbours in the future and makes the sale of your property easier.
Compliance with Building Regulations, Historical Zoning and Land Use
We do not check building plans but do our inspections according to the latest SANS 10400, SABS building codes and Municipal Bylaws in our reporting. Ensure that your property complies with local building regulations and municipal bylaws. Non-compliance can lead to costly renovations or legal issues.
We do not check the zoning or land use of the property in our reporting. Check the zoning and land use history of the property to ensure it aligns with your intended use and plans. Running a small business from home may conflict with zoning laws. Get confirmation from your agent if in doubt.
Conclusion
We believe that a detailed home inspection although not mandatory for a sale or purchase can save you the inconvenience of having to go the legal dispute route, where disputes can be avoided as there is 100% transparency about the property.
A home inspection is not exhaustive but gives you a detailed snapshot of the condition of the property when inspected.
To get an accurate and detailed report, employ a Certified Home Inspector from Pro Inspect to conduct your next inspection.
The cost of an inspection is less than 0,1% of a property value. With it, comes peace of mind and a timeline of the condition of the components in your home.
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