Top 5 Home Inspection Defects

As a home inspector who inspects homes on a daily basis, it never fails to amaze me how the same problems show up on one home after another.  This is especially disconcerting since many of them are so easily seen and fixed. Here I present you with five of the most common defects I have found. Please use this information to allow you to identify and repair  defects before your home inspector visits.

When selling your home, you should should complete a detailed walkthrough of your home before you put it up for sale and try to anticipate the items that the prospective buyer or the buyers home inspector will uncover during the inspection.  Make the repairs now and reap the rewards later.

Here are the top five inspection findings for our region of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Double Taps

A double tap exists when two electrical wires share one connection in the electrical panel.  This wil be identified as a defect by a home inspector. We see them frequently where the panel is full to capacity.  The problem is simple to understand. Two wires are screwed into one terminal.  It is conceivable that one of the wires could be pinched by the terminal correctly but the other one can work loose.  This can be a fire or shocking hazard. Fortunately this is generally an easy fix.  Have a qualified electrician move the wire to another terminal or add  capacity to the electrical panel to accomodate.

Missing Faceplates

All electrical switches and sockets require faceplates.  A simple and inexpensive component that blocks access to the sides and interior of the box.  The inside of the box contains wiring that is energized and a definite safety hazard for the curious child who decides to stick a finger in it. Although this is one of the simplest defects to fix, it is shocking (pardon the pun) to see just how many of these uncovered faceplates we encounter. 

Gutter and Downspout Problems

Gutters are installed on a home to collect the water flowing off the roof and then redirect it away from the home.  A roof is a large surface and the amount of rainwater that it catches and sends down to the gutters is significant. However, it is after the collection phase that things often go wrong.  Water collected in a gutter system should be redirected into a downspout, down through a leader and away from the foundation.  It is suggested by our training that this should be a minimum of 6 feet away in order to keep the water away from the foundation. Why is it then that over 80% of the homes we inspect have mising downspouts and/or missing leaders.  When you watch these defedctive systems during a rain storm, the water dropping next to the foundation is significant.  All that money and effort to catch the rainwater and then it gets dropped at one point by the foundation.  Thats water than will then be far more likely to enter the home. The solution - add the appropriate downspouts and leaders.  Its an easy fix and can really pay off.

Water Stains

We find water stains frequently and they are a major red flag.  A water stain denotes the presence of water either in the past or present. Any inspector will investigate more thoroughly to determine if there is a current source of water at that point in the home.  However, a positive determination can not always be made and we cannot guess, so doubt may exist as to why the stain is there. So why is it that homeowners who have previously made needed repairs to their home past have not repaired the damage that was done by the water.  For example, a leaky pipe is repaired but the water stained ceiling tile below is not.  Or the clothes washer leaked but has since been repaired but the stained baseboard is left as is.  As a home inspector (or a prospective buyer) we look thoroughly for water stains.  A stain is the most glaring evidence of water entry into the home.  If you have had a previous water entry issue and it has been repaired, repair the damaged area as well. Disclose it and everyone will breathe a little easier.

Missing or Loose Handrails

Most stairs require handrails.  About 70% of the homes we inspect are missing one of more hardrails.  In other cases the handrails are loose, too low or have sharp dangerous edges.  It may see like a small issue but to fall down a set of steps whan a handrail could have easily prevented it is a real safety issue and one we should not take lightly.  Check your stairs, ensure they have good sturdy handrails.







For a professional home inspection in St. John's, NL. or surrounding areas, please contact the professional home inspection company you can trust...

www.guardianhomeinspections.ca

Ph. (709) 689-6454