Top-quality home inspections in Philadelphia, PA, are essential when buying or selling a home. They give both parties a clear idea of what kind of condition the property is in, so everyone can feel confident that they’re getting a fair deal on the sale. If you have a home inspection coming up, you might be wondering which areas of the home inspection are most likely to cause a home to fail.
First, it’s important to understand that a home inspection is not a pass/fail test. It merely provides you with an in-depth look at the home’s current condition, with a detailed report of all the property’s faults, both big and small. A home inspection report can have hundreds of listed issues, but the property can still be considered in good condition, if those issues are mostly minor, cosmetic problems.
However, in general, most people will consider a home to be “failing” an inspection if a large and unexpected issue comes up—something that could potentially break the sale. With this definition in mind, here are the most common “failures” on home inspections.
Most people know that major foundation issues are a major problem for a home. An unsteady foundation compromises the structural integrity of the rest of the home and leads to other damage, such as cracks in the walls. If a home inspector finds a problem with the foundation, the sale will likely fall through. However, luckily, major foundational issues aren’t incredibly common.
Issues with the roof are much more common than foundation troubles. This is because, unlike the foundation, a roof isn’t meant to last forever. While it will last decades, eventually, most roofs need to be replaced—and that’s an expensive project. If a potential buyer receives a report that the roof of the home they’re buying needs replacement right away, there’s a good chance they’ll be backing out or asking the current owners to fix the problem first. Few people want to replace the roof on a home they just bought.
A top-quality home inspection will also take an in-depth look at the wiring to ensure everything is up to code. If something is amiss with the wiring, the potential buyers should carefully consider the implications and possible complications that can arise from those wiring troubles. Bad wiring can present a fire hazard, and nobody wants to buy a home that could endanger their family.
An obvious pest problem is pretty likely to turn off anyone walking through a home. But pests like termites are tricky to spot on a standard home inspection. If a termite specialist finds termites in the home, and those pests have done some significant damage, many buyers will walk away. Getting rid of termites is enough of a hassle; repairing the beams inside of the walls on your new home is not something many want to tackle.
A thorough inspection will catch all of these issues before you lock yourself into buying a new home. If you need new home inspections in Philadelphia, PA, contact Eagle Inspections today.
Most people associate full residential inspections in Philadelphia, PA, with selling a home. However, there are many reasons to get your home inspected, and you shouldn’t necessarily wait until your home is under contract to order an inspection. There are often many signs that indicate your home should be inspected by a professional right away.
Foundation troubles can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare—and a pretty surefire way to kill a home sale. However, a shifting foundation actually can be remedied, so long as you catch it early enough to prevent significant structural damage. And the best way to catch it is (you guessed it) to have a home inspector come out and look over your home.
If you notice your doors aren’t closing quite right or cracks are developing in your home’s interior or exterior walls, you should get a home inspection right away. These can be signs of foundation issues, and you’ll want to get them fixed immediately instead of waiting for it to come up on a report when you’re trying to sell your home.
Mold is another issue that can either be a quick fix or a major nightmare, depending on how quickly you catch it. Mold growing behind your walls or in other hidden places can become a serious problem if left untreated. You may end up having to rip out entire walls of your home to get rid of the issue; or, you can find it and treat it quickly and avoid major demolish altogether. Home inspectors do check for mold-like substances, and if noticed, you’ll want to further investigate your home with a mold specialist. If you’ve noticed mold growing in certain places of your home and you have reason to suspect that there mold hiding elsewhere, you should have your home checked by a professional.
Have you noticed frayed wires in parts of your home? Does your electricity tend to short out more often than seems normal? You should have an inspector look over your wiring to see if it’s up to code. Not only can outdated wiring present a problem with closing a sale, but it can also be a serious fire hazard. An errant spark inside your wall can set your house ablaze, endangering everyone inside. If you suspect there’s trouble with your electrical wiring, get it inspected immediately.
If your home has a septic system, it’s crucial to properly maintain it to keep it healthy and fully functional. If you or your home inspector notices bad smells backing up into your home, hearing gurgling or rumbling sounds in the pipes, or if the land around the septic tank is soggy, you’ll want to have a septic system professional come out and address the problem. There’s likely a problem with the tank that needs to be fixed right away before your leaking septic system becomes a major health hazard to everyone on your property.
There are many reasons to get complete residential inspections in Philadelphia, PA, and you don’t need to be selling your home to schedule one. If your home is older, you’re experiencing any of the issues above, or just want peace of mind that comes from knowing about any potential problems on your property, contact Eagle Inspections to have a home inspector come to you!
Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you’re going to need a home inspection if financing is part of the purchase equation. A home inspection guarantees that there are no hidden catastrophic flaws with a property that’s being transferred, and if issues are discovered during the inspection they are disclosed to both parties. A home inspection in Philadelphia is your first layer of protection when purchasing a house because it shines the light of knowledge on what could be difficult to spot yet costly problems.
Accurate home inspections are conducted by people who have been trained in the major systems of a house and how those systems interact with one another. A home inspector knows the telltale signs of underlying issues that could become big problems for the purchaser and can also check existing systems to make sure they comply with state and local codes and regulations. Despite the training and knowledge needed to conduct a thorough home inspection, some people attempt to conduct inspections on their own. Keep reading to learn a few of the many reasons that it’s a bad idea to go it alone on your next home inspection.
Again, conducting a thorough, accurate home inspection involves high-level training and years of experience in residential inspection, construction, trade work, or a combination of the three. The average home buyer doesn’t meet those criteria and can, at best only spot the most obvious issues. Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of codes and regulations represents a great deal of research, and quite frankly, that’s not something the average home buyer does with his or her spare time. Therefore, leave the inspection to those who have the skills to do it the right way, as an accurate inspection is your best protection against future home purchase mistakes.
It takes more than a flashlight and a tape measurer to conduct a thorough home inspection. In fact, just as there is special knowledge needed to properly assess the condition of a property, there’s also special equipment needed that the average home buyer may not have. Devices such as moisture meters to determine plumbing leaks or infrared cameras to highlight weaknesses in insulation probably are probably only possessed by those who have a professional reason to invest in them. Without these tools, it’s easy to overlook potential problems since many significant issues like plumbing leaks can be totally hidden from sight.
While there is a fee associated with hiring a professional inspector, that fee is dramatically less than the cost of purchasing a home with substantial undiagnosed problems that must be remedied. For example, a plumbing leak in the slab that is undetected at the time of purchase could be costly to repair, and the secondary damage could drive the remediation costs into the thousands. An outdated, dangerous electrical issue could result in a need for total house rewiring, or even worse, it could result in an electrical fire. Even if you stumble upon evidence of a problem with the house, you may not understand the full extent of it or the cost of remediating it. Instead of attempting to save money in the short-term by skipping a professional inspection, the wiser approach is to let a professional perform the inspection so that you get guaranteed results.
If you have a need for new home building inspections in Philadelphia, PA, there’s nothing to be gained by attempting to do it yourself. The better choice is to hire a professional home inspector who can thoroughly assess and report on the condition of the property, which can save you money, time, and headaches in the future. To learn more reasons that you should avoid do-it-yourself home inspections, contact Eagle Inspections at (267) 538-2292.
Home inspections are an essential part of the homebuying process. They’re intended to catch any hidden issues that the buyer—and perhaps even the seller—can’t see for themselves. Buyers and sellers alike can feel a lot of anxiety when waiting for the report from their home inspector in Philadelphia, fearing a contract-ending problem will be discovered. If you’re biting your nails over your pending home inspection, keep reading to learn what kinds of issues are most likely to come up.
In older homes, it was common for outlets to have only two prongs. However, most new appliances and electrical devices require outlets that have three prongs; this third prong grounds the outlet, helping to prevent power surges and other electrical hazards. Unfortunately, many people who own these older homes may try to replace their two-prong outlets with three-prong outlets without attaching a ground wire. While this allows newer plugs to be used in the outlets, it can lead to many issues, including the risk of electrical shock as well as damage to appliances due to the aforementioned power surges.
The best way to fix this is to add a grounding wire, which is something that should be done by a professional electrician. It’s a relatively simple and straightforward process, so you shouldn’t worry about spending a small fortune to get those outlets up to date. However, it’s definitely not something you should skip out on; ungrounded outlets are dangerous and should be repaired as soon as possible.
Missing handrails can be a serious safety hazard. In some cases, the staircase may have intentionally been built without a handrail. This is more common on exterior stairs, which usually only have two or three steps. Other times, the handrail may have been broken off and never replaced, or it may have been removed for one reason or another.
We strongly recommend having those handrails replaced and ensuring they’re strong and sturdy enough to support your weight. You can discuss this matter with the home seller and decide whether this is something you will take care of yourself or something you want them to fix before you buy the home.
One final issue frequently seen is improper drainage around the home. Ideally, a property should slope slightly away from the home’s foundation, preventing water from pooling around the structure. If your home inspection report comes back with word of a draining issue, proceed with caution, because this is about more than stepping in puddles on your property.
Improper drainage can lead to leaks in the lower levels of your home (particularly in the basement or crawlspace), which can cause mold and mildew growth in those areas. Furthermore, the foundation can sustain water damage if the drainage issue goes untreated for too long. Your home report should tell you if these problems are already present. But even if they’re not, you’ll want to ensure that those drainage issues are fixed promptly, whether you ask the seller to do it or you handle it yourself after you close on the property.
If you need a high-quality, professional inspection of your home, contact Eagle Inspections. We can perform several types of inspections, including home sale inspections or a residential radon inspection in Philadelphia, PA. Give us a call to get on our schedule today.
A home inspection is a standard part of any home sale. Whether you’re the buyer or the seller, a thorough inspection is vital to your agreement. But sometimes, the home inspector your lender uses does a less-than-stellar job. As the seller, you might notice that they’re in and out in a surprisingly short amount of time. As the buyer, you might notice some visible damage that you spotted is missing on the report. So, what should you do? Does it really matter? If you’re not happy with your first home inspection, here’s why you should consider contacting us for better home inspections in Philadelphia, PA.
If you’re buying a property, don’t you want to be absolutely certain that it’s safe for your family to live in? A low-quality inspection could miss some major issues that pose an actual risk to the health and well-being of your loved ones. Things such as leaking gas lines, roof damage, and other major issues can put your family at risk when you move in. If you have any reason to suspect that the first inspection didn’t do a thorough job, your family’s safety alone is worth the investment of a second inspection. This is especially true if your agent arranged the inspection. Sometimes, realtors act in the best interests of their sale rather than what will give you peace of mind. While the inspector they line up for you may be certified and experienced, you could still wind up with a rushed inspection that stops short of uncovering everything you should know about the home you’re about to purchase.
Buying a home is a huge investment, and you want to ensure you’re getting what you paid for. You don’t want to move in only to discover a major issue requiring expensive repairs, do you? If the inspection you got on the property doesn’t catch things such as foundation trouble, roof damage, or outdated plumbing and electrical systems, you could find yourself forking over thousands more to repair these issues shortly after you move in. And nobody wants to take out another loan to cover the repairs on a house they just went into debt to buy.
When you walk through a property, it’s relatively easy for the sellers to cover up underlying issues with the property. A fresh coat of paint and proper staging can work wonders on a property’s appearance and give you an excellent first impression. But you need to know what troubles might be lurking under the fresh paint, and if the first inspection isn’t cutting it, getting a better inspection can actually provide you with a negotiation tool during the homebuying process.
For example, let’s say that our inspectors find the roof is old and will need to be replaced within the next year or two. You can take this information to the sellers and negotiate with them to reduce the cost of the home so that you can afford to replace the roof, or you can ask them to have the roof fixed before you buy. Most large home issues can be worked into a contract so that the repairs are done before the final sale, or so that the new owners can better afford to do the repairs themselves.
Thus far, we’ve largely talked about the benefits to the buyer of a home. But sellers benefit from a better home inspection too. Not only can you feel confident that the home you’re selling is in good shape, but you can actually sell your home faster. Buyers don’t want to purchase a home that they’re not positive is in good condition. By getting an inspection from a thorough, reliable home inspector, you allow potential buyers to move forward more quickly and with more confidence because they know exactly what they’re getting.
If you’re looking for a more thorough home or residential electrical inspection in Philadelphia, PA, contact Eagle Inspections, LLC, today!
When you buy a new home, you don’t expect any problems. You expect all its major systems, such as the electrical system and plumbing system, to work without problems. You expect the homebuilder to conduct quality control checks and ensure that your new home is perfect. That being said, new construction homes still benefit from home inspections in Philadelphia, PA. Keep reading to learn more.
Building a house is a complex process. There are a lot of moving parts that need put into place precisely. There are also many different people working on the home during construction. With such complexity, comes the possibility for errors to occur. It never hurts to have another set of eyes take a look at the home. Top-quality home inspections find potential issues that are often overlooked by construction crews and by the new homeowners during walk-through inspections.
Another reason to schedule a home inspection is to catch any infestation problems, particularly termite infestations. Any home, of any age, can have a termite problem. Wood-ground contact with certain kinds of soil can increase the chances of a termite infestation as can certain mulches used in landscaping. The fact is that construction crews can do everything right, and new homes can still get infested with termites. Home inspections spot termite issues before they create costly problems for new homeowners.
In addition to new construction home inspections for defective systems and termites, radon testing should also be done before moving into a newly constructed home. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is colorless and odorless and is known to cause lung cancer.
Most people assume a home inspection should be done at the end of construction. While this is true, homeowners should also consider a pre-drywall inspection. A pre-drywall inspection allows the inspectors to see components of the home that would normally be covered up during a home inspection done right before closing. During a pre-drywall inspection, the inspector can check the electrical system, the plumbing, and the framework for any signs of poor installation or other problems.
Home inspectors also recommend scheduling another inspection just before your home’s warranty is set to expire. This is usually 1 year after the initial build, depending on the warranty purchased with the home. Homeowners who schedule these kinds of home inspections save a lot of money if there’s a problem that’s covered by the warranty.
If you’re building a new home, you deserve better home inspections than the ones offered by the builder. A new home is a huge investment. For many people, it’s the largest purchase they’ll make in their lifetime. You want to make sure you’re getting a quality, structurally sound house.
For the best home inspections in Philadelphia, PA, contact Eagle Inspections today at 215-440-6170 to learn more about the inspection process or to schedule your new home inspection.
In a world that seems to be obsessed with all things shiny and new, there’s a lot to be said for buying an older home. Homes built in the early 1900s have a character and charm that simply can’t be matched by the ones that have been built in the last 50 years or so. But all that charm does come with its drawbacks. If you’re considering buying an older home, it’s extremely important that you don’t skip out on a home inspection from a professional home inspector in Philadelphia. Keep reading to learn just a few of the reasons that this inspection is so important for older homes.
Safety codes for residential buildings have changed a lot in the last half a century. The last thing you want as a home buyer is to purchase a home that is not even up to code. It’s important to ensure that all of the home’s features—both inside and out—are up to safety standards so you don’t end up buying a home that is deemed unsafe to live in.
One of the first places a home inspector will look when inspecting an old home is the basement. Oftentimes, the basements of old homes have been remodeled into a rec room or home theater. This makes the space look nice, but it doesn’t mean that the structure itself is sound.
It’s important to remember that, in older homes, the basement was never meant as a living space; it was designed as storage for dry goods or possibly household items. If it’s been remodeled as a living space, an inspector needs to ensure that the basement is set up with proper drainage and that there are no signs of rot or mold hiding behind the remodeled paneling.
Roofs have a limited lifespan of roughly 20 to 50 years, depending on the material and the care it’s received. If the home you’re buying is older than that, you’ll want to ensure that the roof is in good shape. This goes far beyond glancing up at the roof to see if shingles are missing. An old roof can look nice if it’s been reshingled, but those fresh shingles could be hiding rusted flashing, a deteriorating chimney, or rotted fascia boards. Even the roof structure itself may be compromised, but a trained eye will notice any sagging rooflines no matter how many times it’s been reshingled.
In relation to the roof, an inspector will also check for proper insulation and ventilation in the attic. Many owners of old homes will dump wood shavings or shredded paper in the attic to improve insulation. This is a major issue, as these materials are combustible. An inspector will get up in those spaces and check for safe, proper insulation.
You’ll also want to know if the wiring of any old home has been updated recently. Half a century ago, many homes used knob-and-tube wiring; this is an extremely outdated wiring system that you’ll want to have updated right away, should you decide to still purchase the property. If you’re not up for doing that level of overhaul on a newly purchased home, an inspector can tell you so that you can move on.
Last but certainly not least is the plumbing. Older homes often used cast iron drains, galvanized water lines, and clay tiles; all of these parts present potential major issues to your plumbing. In fact, the plumbing is often the biggest issue in old homes because of the corrosion and breakdown of these parts. A proper inspection will let you know what the plumbing looks like so you can correct and update any problems to avoid major breakdowns and damage later.
If you’re buying an old home, contact Eagle Inspections. We’re the best home inspector in Philadelphia, PA, and we’ll do a thorough inspection so you know exactly what you’re getting into when purchasing an older home. Call to schedule your inspection today!
The dream of almost every American is to one day become a homeowner. There are many inherent financial benefits to owning a home instead of renting, but there’s also something to be said for the sense of pride that swells in a person when he or she owns a residential property. While thousands of homes are bought and sold each day in this country, some transactions may go more smoothly than others. After all, a home purchase is likely to be the largest single investment a homeowner makes, and it’s important to know what you’re getting into when buying a piece of residential property. One of the best sources of confidence and comfort in the homebuying process is a residential inspection in Philadelphia, PA, performed by a reputable, licensed home inspector. (more…)
Though many homes are currently being constructed using PEX, PVC, and other types of plastic piping for residential water supplies, there is still a great deal of copper plumbing in service. Since the 1960s, copper piping has been the standard for water lines because of its beneficial qualities such as ease of bending, ready availability, and durability. However, ask anyone who has performed many home inspections, and you’ll learn that one common issue with copper pipes is corrosion.
One of the household systems a qualified inspector will check during a home inspection in Philadelphia is the plumbing, and it’s not uncommon to find evidence of corrosion in copper pipes. Corrosion can happen for many reasons. However, no matter its cause, when copper corrosion is discovered during a residential inspection, it must be repaired immediately to prevent further damage to surrounding structures. Keep reading to learn about a few of the common causes of corrosion within the home.
The relative acidity or alkalinity of water is rated using the pH scale. Substances with a low pH are considered acidic, while a high pH means that the substance is more alkaline. Neutral pH is considered 7, but the scale goes from 0 to 14. Water that has a low pH can lead to corrosion in copper pipes because it dissolves the protective copper oxide layer that forms inside the pipes in the presence of alkaline water. That layer of copper oxide protects the pipe and prevents oxidation, and when it isn’t present, corrosion is accelerated. That can lead to an eventual pinhole leak in your plumbing that can wreak havoc on utility bills and surrounding structures.
The water that is in your plumbing has fluctuating levels of dissolved gases, one of which is oxygen. When the temperature of the water is higher, there is usually more oxygen present. How does this impact corrosion? Oxygen must be present for oxidation, or rust, to occur in copper pipes. Therefore, the more oxygen that’s present in the water, the faster rust will develop. Once it begins to coat the inside of the copper piping, it can eat away at the thickness of the pipe walls until they become compromised and more susceptible to leaks or breakage.
Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, which is why it’s the primary element used in electrical wiring. It’s always ever-present in the household environment in walls, floors, and the ground between the home and the water meter. Those two dynamics can create a problem when copper piping is exposed to electricity or even a weak galvanic field. For example, if lightning strikes the ground near a copper supply line, it could result in immediate corrosion and a pinhole leak. Sometimes people ground appliances to copper pipes, which provide an electrical trickle that can lead to a galvanic reaction and accelerated corrosion over time.
Just as water with a low pH can impact corrosion in copper, high pH water that is full of dissolved solids can also instigate corrosion by a different mechanism. When water is alkaline or hard, which means impregnated with dissolved minerals such as calcium, sulfates, or salts, those substances precipitate out and adhere to the inside lining of the copper pipe. That factor alone doesn’t promote corrosion, but if corrosion-promoting bacteria become embedded in that mineral scale, a phenomenon known as microbiologically induced corrosion can occur.
If a recent home inspection has uncovered corrosion of copper piping in your home, you must first determine the cause of the corrosion and take steps to remedy it immediately. Failure to confront corrosion can be costly in terms of repair expense and inconvenience that results from failed plumbing. To learn more about the causes of corrosion in your home to schedule a residential inspection in Philadelphia, PA, contact Eagle Inspections at (267) 538-2292.