Unbiased assessement of condition of the home!

A home inspection, also known as a building inspection or a property inspection, is a thorough visual assessment of a home conducted by a certified professional home inspector at a specific point in time.

While a home may be inspected for many reasons most home inspections occur before a home is sold, to reveal any issues that might become problems for the buyer. A home seller may also choose to have a home inspection done prior to listing a property, as an open book/savings offer to a prospective buyer as well as to avoid any unpleasant surprises during negotiations.

A home inspection will typically include a walk-through tour of the house during which the condition of the property is closely scrutinized, any defects and deficiencies are noted, and recommendations for repair are made. During the home inspection the inspector will look for issues that could have significant impact from a health and safety perspective, or purely from a financial standpoint.

Home Inspection Benefits

Purchasing a “new” home can be a daunting task. An obvious benefit of getting a home inspection is that you will have clarity and understanding of the home you are considering for purchase at a time when you may have doubts. Through the inspection process, you will be able to obtain specific information concerning the various systems and structural components of the home and ask any question that you may have.

Furthermore, if the home inspection points out the necessity for major or minor repairs, the buyer can insist on correcting the problems prior to closing. If any major issues are pointed out during the inspection process, the buyer can adjust the purchase price by an amount that will incorporate the cost of the repairs.

The information gathered during a home inspection can also benefit the buyer by making them familiar with the home. The location of shut off valves, pump switches, heating and cooling filters, and breaker panels are all found in a comprehensive home inspection. Sometimes valves and switches are located in unusual places, particularly in older houses. The inspection process identifies and maps these items and also provides the buyer with important information about maintaining the home to make sure their investment stays safe and functional for years to come.

General Home Inspection Inclusions

Carleton Home Inspections looks at each of the major systems of the home as shown below,

• Roof (shingles, flashings, chimneys, vents, trim and gutters, drip edges, skylights, downspouts, and other visible roof related items)

• Exterior (siding materials, attachments, windows, doors, sashes and lintels, vents, entryways, and other visible exterior related components)

• Attics (insulation, ventilation, rafters, joists and collar ties, trusses, wiring attachments, and other visible related items)

• Interior (floors and ceilings, walls, stairs (if applicable) and banisters, finishes, sinks, cabinets, shelving, built-in appliances, smoke detectors and safety-related items, and other visible interior-related components)

• Basements, Crawl Spaces, and Foundation (insulation, ventilation, posts, vapor barriers, utility attachment, structural items, floors and walls, and columns)

• Plumbing and Fixtures (water pressure, water distribution system, hose bibs, sinks and faucets, bath/showers and toilets, and other plumbing system components)

• Heating and Cooling Systems (furnace, air cleaning parts, ductwork, electronic monoxide testing, air conditioner and lines, and other visible related HVAC components)

• Electrical Systems (service entry and clearances, service panel, switches and outlets, visible wiring and junction boxes, grounding system, and other related electrical components)  

• Environmental Issues
  Decks and Porches, driveways, fences, sidewalks
  Grading, and drainage
  Fireplaces, Overall Structure

Home Inspections for Sellers

Pre-listing inspections: what better way to start the process of selling your home? By providing a Carleton Home Inspection in the initial sales package, you are providing a cost savings to the prospective buyers as an incentive. You are also offering your house for sale as an open book. You will be allowing the home purchase process to proceed without any hitches by offering a full disclosure to potential buyers. If there are any necessary repairs, they can be rectified prior to putting the house on the market. It takes a lot of work to get a signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale. When a default is uncovered during a buyers home inspection the purchaser will want to renegotiate. If all parties know the condition of the house prior to the offer, there is no need to renegotiate. As most real estate agents know, renegotiations are not easy. Another benefit of a Carleton Home Inspection is that it can be one of the best pre-sale investments you make on a real estate transaction. If the seller purchases the inspection, the cost of the process can be factored into the asking price of the house.

Home Inspections for Buyers

A home inspector will bring your attention to deficiencies in the home to avoid costly discoveries after the purchase. Having a home purchase become a money pit is not what anyone would request out of a house purchase.

You will be able to alter the course of a home purchase from an emotional state to an intellectual state, Acting from an informed position will improve your negotiations in requesting reductions to allow for future costs or to request alterations prior to a purchase.

A Carleton Home Inspection will also provide you valuable information on the workings of the home.