Consider using a licensed home inspector when buying a home.
An inspection can help give you peace of mind, and reduce the possibility of defects and costly hidden repairs… before you buy.
Most residences and investment properties have defects that are the result of normal wear, settling, design, and other structural and mechanical circumstances. Before final purchase of any property, you should find out whether the causes behind such defects are serious or not.
An inspector's professional evaluation of the conditions, expected life and replacement costs can be a valuable guide for deciding the properties true value. This information can help you decide if you are making a good investment.
As an inspector walks through your home, they recognize serious problems that may escape an untrained eye. Using careful observations, various types of testing equipment, and a systematic approach, they should investigate every component of your residence, including:
- Site
- Basement
- Landscaping
- Structural System
- Driveways
- Plumbing System
- Walkways
- Electrical System
- Garages
- Heating/ Cooling
- Out Buildings and Air Conditioning
- Foundation
- Systems
- Exterior
- Kitchen
- Roof
- Bathrooms
- Chimney
- Attic
- Gutters
- Floor Coverings
- Downspouts
- Wall Finishes
After the entire residence and site have been evaluated, the inspector should review their findings with you. You should also receive a detailed report describing the entire residence and site, along with cost estimates for ant major defects noted during the course of the inspection.
Information Provided by home inspector Robert A. Herrick of Robert A. Herrick and Associates, Inc.
Preferred Inspectors:
Bob Herrick, 312.664.7733 http://www.bobherrick.com/resume.html
Cornerstone Home Inspections, 773.718.2500 http://www.cornerstonehomeinspection.com/
Glenn Johnson, Vision Inspection Services, 773.447.4060 www.visioninspectionservices.com
