Your home is a big investment; for most homeowners, it’s likely the biggest investment made in a lifetime. Protecting that investment is critical and whole home inspections in Philadelphia, PA, are an important tool to that end. Home inspections are most often obtained when purchasing a new home, but any homeowner anytime can schedule an inspection as part of a regular home maintenance program. The inspector’s report gives you valuable insight into your home, helps you stay on top of potential problems, and makes it easier for you to anticipate repairs down the road and budget accordingly.
That said, a home inspection report can be overwhelming; it can look like a giant, pages-long list of everything that is or could be wrong with your home. To help you make the most of your report and prioritize your response, here are 2 tips:
Remember, it’s the inspector’s job to find every little thing. A report full of red marks doesn’t mean your house is a disaster; it simply means you hired a thorough inspector. Your report from Eagle Inspections, your resource for top quality home inspections in Philadelphia, PA, gives you the information you need to keep your home in great shape. It’s a maintenance guide that will help you set maintenance priorities and budget and plan for future needs. Take care of your home; call Eagle Inspections to schedule your inspection today.
New beginnings are around the corner. The start of a new year often inspires deep introspection and a desire to make personal changes or try new things. While you’re thinking that 2021 might be the year you make regular walking a habit or take the cooking class you’ve always wanted to try, why don’t you consider also adding a few home care items to your list? One excellent option is to schedule an inspection of your home’s plumbing system by a home inspector. Sure, it’s not nearly as exciting as learning to sail or growing out your bangs, but if a quality home inspection in Philadelphia, PA, can prevent 2021 from becoming the year of the flood, it’s totally worth it.
If you’re experiencing any of the following in your home, a plumbing inspection needs to be on your resolution list:
One thing’s for certain: you’re still going to be spending quite a bit of time at home in 2021 and you’re going to want your plumbing to be working. Get your pipes flowing smoothly with a residential plumbing inspection in Philadelphia, PA, by Eagle Inspections. Our skilled, highly-trained home inspectors will give your pipes a thorough inspection and let you know the steps you can take to prevent costly water damages. Best of all, you can check this resolution off right away with one quick phone call and our inspectors will take care of the rest. Call today!
Your home’s electrical system is one of the most complex systems in your home. It runs through every room and every wall and has an impact on the operation of almost every other system. It is also one of the systems with the most potential for damage and disruption if something fails. Power outages, fires, and harmful electrical shocks are just a few of the things that can be the result of a poorly functioning electrical system. Scheduling a regular home check inspection in Philadelphia, PA, that includes a thorough review of your home’s electrical connections and wiring will help you sleep peacefully at night knowing that you’ve done what you can to protect your home.
A thorough electrical inspection will include the following:
The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends home electrical inspections for any of the following reasons:
In all cases, the inspection should be completed by a skilled home inspector.
If it’s time for your home to have a residential electrical inspection in Philadelphia, PA, call Eagle Inspections. Our certified home inspectors are available to inspect your electrical system and let you know what changes, if any, you need to make to keep your home and family safe. We offer electrical inspections as well as complete residential inspections. Call and schedule your inspection today!
If you’re buying your first new home, mistakes are inevitable. From searching for the perfect house to finding a realtor, securing a mortgage, and going through escrow and signing, there’s a lot going on, much of which you’ve never done before. Give yourself a leg up on the process by learning how to avoid these 5 mistakes:
Buying a new home is exciting and more than a bit overwhelming. A quality whole home inspection in Philadelphia, PA, can take some of the fear out of making such a big purchase. If you’re embarking on the purchase of a new home, the following are the top 10 things to have inspected before signing on the dotted line:
Don’t cross your fingers and hope for the best; get a new home inspection in Philadelphia, PA, from Eagle Inspections and then sleep soundly knowing you’ve done your best to make a wise purchase for you and your family.
Winter is tough on homes. Cold temperatures, high winds, snow, ice, and hail all take their toll. And, when something goes wrong during the winter, it can be difficult to get repairs accomplished in a timely fashion. In addition, weather conditions may completely preclude certain repairs, requiring you to make do until spring.
The single most important thing you can do to protect your home from the harsh realities of a Pennsylvania winter and keep your family safe, dry, and warm is to have a winter home inspection in Philadelphia. Expert home inspectors will visit your home, perform a thorough residential inspection, and let you know what you need to do to get your house prepared for winter.
The following are 5 excellent reasons to get a winter home inspection:
Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against winter weather. It should be intact and free from cracks, holes, and missing or broken shingles. Inspectors will examine your roof for any signs of wear, damage, or leaks and make the necessary repairs. It’s important to know that many roof repairs have to wait until spring; cold temps and treacherous conditions prohibit many roof repairs during winter months.
Inspectors will also check your gutters, soffits, flashing, and other components to make sure they are intact and working properly.
It gets cold around here. If, like most folks, you wait to click on your furnace until the first sign of freezing temps only to discover that it isn’t working, you could wait weeks for repairs. A professional home inspector will test your furnace before you need it so it will work properly when you do.
Home inspectors will do two important things to prepare your plumbing system for winter. First, they will inspect your water heater. Cold showers are never fun, but they are particularly obnoxious when it’s freezing outside. Second, they’ll inspect your pipes. Frozen pipes can be a disaster. At best, they block your access to water until they thaw; at worst, they crack and burst, flooding your home with freezing cold water. Closely examining your pipes for signs of leaks and suggesting insulation for areas at high risk for freezing will keep your water running smoothly all winter long.
You’ll save money and stay warmer if your home is appropriately insulated and well-sealed. Home inspectors will take a look at your insulation and check it for damage. They’ll also measure it to ensure that it is providing the recommended R-levels; insulation can compact over time, resulting in you having less insulation than you think you do. Fall and early winter are also good times to test that windows, doors, electrical outlets, and other areas are tightly sealed. Low outdoor temps make it easy to find cold spots in your home that might need additional insulation or sealing.
Log fires, gas fireplaces, and wood stoves are all lovely ways to keep your home toasty warm and super cozy this winter. A home inspection will ensure that all your fireplaces and chimneys are safe and in good working order.
Eagle Inspections provides accurate home inspections in Philadelphia, PA. Our skilled and knowledgeable inspectors are available to help you get your home ready for winter. Call to schedule your winter home inspection today!
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every person and business throughout the country in one way or another. Many industries have been forced to adapt the way that they do business on a daily basis in order to accommodate new health regulations. This includes the real estate industry—an industry in which it’s expected to allow strangers to enter your home on a regular basis. Many people are uncomfortable with this concept now and are turning to technology-based options for viewing properties they’re interested in. Keep reading to learn more about virtual home inspections from the best home inspectors in Philadelphia.
First, it’s important to note that when we say “virtual property inspection,” we’re not referring to your final inspection report from a qualified inspector; this refers to your personal inspection of the property. When buying a property, you may visit the house multiple times before closing the deal. However, if you’re not comfortable walking through someone’s house (especially in an open-house situation where there may be several other people present), a virtual property tour may be a good alternative.
Your real estate agent can schedule a time to sit down with you and perform a video conference call with the property owner or their agent. You can then view the property virtually via live stream, so that you can feel confident you see the real deal, and not just well-staged photos that may have been edited only to show the house’s best parts. If you’re the seller, you may elect to only offer virtual tours at this time to help reduce your exposure to large numbers of strangers; at the very least, you could use these as a tool to establish genuine interest before inviting a potential buyer to come by for an in-person walk-through.
While virtual inspections are an excellent tool to use at this time to view a property for the first time, it shouldn’t be the only way you view the property. A live stream simply isn’t an adequate substitute for walking through the house yourself. So, once you’ve done a virtual walk-through, if you’re still interested in the property, schedule a time to stop by and view the property in a safe, health-conscious manner.
While the real estate industry has been forced to pivot in many ways to accommodate the current health crisis, professional home inspections must be done in person. A video tour does not give a professional home inspector the in-depth look they need to provide an adequate report on the property. Too many systems within a property need to be touched, opened, turned on, and listened to for an inspector to catch potential problems, and this just can’t be done on a video.
Of course, we are making every effort to protect the property owners of each property we inspect. Our inspectors wear both face and shoe coverings when entering your property, sanitize their hands before entering, and strive to maintain proper social distance at all times. Ultimately in-person inspections provide more thorough, better home inspections in Philadelphia, PA. Please reach out to us to learn more about what precautions we’re taking to protect your health while still providing you with the thorough home inspection report you need.
You know that keeping up to date on your vehicle’s maintenance helps it to run more smoothly and efficiently, and it can prevent a future breakdown. It also keeps the car in better shape so that when it’s time to sell, you could potentially sell it for more. A similar concept applies to your residential property: The more effort you put into maintaining it, the better shape it will be in when it’s time to sell, and that usually translates to a higher selling price. Keeping your home in good condition can also help your residential inspection in Philadelphia, PA, go a lot more smoothly. Keep reading to learn more about what maintenance tasks you should be performing each season.
While you’re getting swept up in the spring-cleaning fever, don’t forget to use some of that energy to perform necessary maintenance tasks for your property too. With the weather warming up, it’s an excellent time to get some exterior inspecting and maintenance done. Check the foundation walls and other concrete or masonry for cracking or other signs of deterioration. Check exterior wood surfaces for weathering, and give them a fresh coat of paint or varnish if needed—secure loose railings on stairs and decks, and trim vegetation back from your structures. If you are able to climb up on the roof, check for missing or damaged shingles and check the flashing for damage as well. Make sure your sprinkler system is operational for the growing season.
Indoors, check both the basement and the attic for signs of leaking and water damage. Spring is a great time to do this, as there tends to be plenty of moisture at this time; be sure to check for these leaks after rainfall. Flush your water heater and check for leaks or corrosion. Check your bathroom and other tiled areas for adequate grout and caulking. Get your AC inspected before the weather heats up.
As the weather cools down, you need to inspect your property to make sure it’s ready for those temperature drops. Winterize your sprinkler system and any other exterior plumbing fixtures. Make sure your gutters are clean of fall debris regularly, and check it for any cracks or damage; make sure downspouts are diverting water away from the foundation.
Have your heater inspected to make sure it’s operational before it gets too cold. Test your smoke alarms and CO2 detectors. Check your doors and windows for proper sealing, insulation, and weather stripping and inspect the areas around and under sinks, tubs, and other plumbing fixtures for any leaks.
While this might sound like a lot, these lists can be spread out over two seasons. Only performing one of these maintenance tasks each week should allow you to get through the entire list every year without any trouble. This can help you to catch potential problems before they get out of hand—and before you get any surprises on a home inspection report.
If you require residential inspection services in Philadelphia, PA, contact Eagle Inspections today.
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.