Serious home defects can be easy to miss by the untrained eye. Most home inspectors have the tools and training to detect even the trickiest issues, but they are only human, and sometimes things get overlooked. Even the best inspectors will miss an item that was not visible during the inspection. The fact of the matter is, not all home inspectors are created equal. According to the experts at America’s Choice Inspections, there are five areas that could be missed at a home inspection.
1. Negative Grades Around the Foundation
Generally, soil should slope away from the foundation. If there is a negative grade, or slope, toward the foundation, water can easily run into the basement or crawlspace. This can cause a multitude of problems such as mold, insect infestation, rotting wood, and a cracked foundation over time.
2. Heating and Cooling Equipment
If the house is being inspected in the dead of winter, the inspector may not have the best opportunity to check if the AC unit will run at its full capacity. This is also true of furnaces in the summer. HVAC equipment also contains many elements and electronic components that are susceptible to wear and tear.
3. Leaks or Faulty Plumbing
The home inspector should be able to detect plumbing leaks. However, if the home is vacant, the leak might not show up until the water has been turned on for a few days.
4. Window Condensation
Fog on the windows is not always a problem. When there is condensation or fog in between window panes, however, then attention must be paid. This typically means that the seal on a multi-pane window is broken. Broken seals can affect energy efficiency, and the moisture encourages the growth of mold and mildew.
5. Aging Roof
The effects of aging on a roof include cupping, curling, blistering, lifting, splitting, insect damage, cracking, rotting, and missing granular/sections. These symptoms of an aging roof may be warning signs of future water intrusion unless a new roof is installed.
Buyers and sellers should be very diligent in selecting a home inspector. If you’re in the Charlotte, NC, area and you want to learn more about America’s Choice Inspections, read our reviews. and contact us for more information. Give us a call today at (704) 504-9798 to schedule your inspection, or you can fill out our appointment request form online.