There are Several Types of Home Inspections, How Do You Know You are Getting the Right One?

Home inspection is an important part of the Granbury homebuying process. Inspections give you professional insight into the condition of the home you're purchasing. It is like buying a used car from a private owner directly and asking them to take it to a mechanic before handing them the money.

As you are shopping for Granbury homes and come across one that you love then make an offer you may find that after the general inspection, a more specialized inspection may be needed. 

Types of Specialized Home Inspections

Roof

A general inspection will look at the roof but if something is found and the inspector feels more insight is needed they will often suggest that a specialized roof inspection be conducted to gain more detailed insight into an issue.

At this point, it is a good idea to have a roofing contractor who makes it their life work to keep homes in top shape when it comes to roofing come and look at the roof. The roof is incredibly important to the overall function of the home and as such you want someone with specific roofing knowledge to come and take a closer look. This can cost anywhere from $120 to over $300.

Asbestos

If you are interested in purchasing a home that was built before the late1970s you may be advised to have an inspection performed to discover if there are any areas with asbestos in the home. Prior to the late 70s, it was not known that asbestos was harmful, and as such it was used to create many building materials like floor tiles, insulation, pipes inside, and roofing.

If you feel there could be asbestos present in an older home you plan to purchase it is worth asking your real estate agent or inspector if it would be a good idea to get a further look from an asbestos abatement company.

Pool inspection

Being that Granbury is in Texas there is some very hot weather and many homes in the area have private pools. If you are purchasing a home with a private pool you want to make sure you are getting the best information about the pool condition possible. It is always a good idea to hire a pool specialist to look over the pool separately when purchasing any home with a private pool.

HVAC inspection

During the general inspection, the inspector may find some concerning items in the HVAC system. If they do you may want to consider having a specialist look into the system to help you determine the year finer details of the issues. It can also be a good idea to get a more specialized look into the system if there is no recorded log of HVAC maintenance.

Plumbing and sewer inspection

It is always a very good idea to inspect the plumbing lines that run from the home to the main system in the street. One thing that is common and can be a huge pain to discover after you've already purchased the home is problems with the plumbing lines in your property between the house and the water main. It is a good idea to pay the extra money to have a company run cameras through these lines to ensure they are clear before purchasing a home.

Pest inspection

During a general inspection, the inspector will look for signs of pest damage. If the inspector has found some signs that there could the insect damage and possibly an infestation they will advise that you find a pest control company to determine if there is in fact a pest problem in the property.

Mold

During the general inspection if an inspector finds signs of mold they will be able to tell you that there is mold but not be able to determine if the mold is problematic or toxic. When mold is discovered it is a good idea to have a third-party come in to test and make sure that the mold is not toxic and has the ability to cause health and safety issues.

Lead-based paint

This is another inspection that is helpful to conduct in older homes built before 1978. Before this time lead was widely used in paint. And this will require an extra inspection the nice thing is that the United States Environmental Protection Agency provides an online tool to help you find a certified inspector to determine the presence of lead-based paint in a home.

Radon

This inspection is something not widely talked about or known but should gain more awareness and attention. Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs in the earth's surface. It is especially important to inspect homes that have a basement or crawlspace that has required digging into the earth. Radon can be very harmful and needs to be remediated. It is always a good idea to have a radon test performed in any home with a basement or crawlspace under the home.

Electrical

This is another area that the inspector will cover and a general inspection. But if they see something of great concern they may suggest that you have a certified electrician come out and take a more detailed look at a specific area.

Chimney

If the home has a fireplace and chimney a general inspector can look it over but to ensure you are getting the most detailed and safe look of the chimney it might be a good idea to have someone inspect the chimney with a certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Foundation

This is another area that will be looked at by the inspector during the general inspection. If they do find signs of critical issues they will then suggest that a further specialized inspection of the structural integrity of the home be conducted.

The general inspection is always a smart plan to get insight into whether you are making a smart investment in your Granbury home purchase. It is good however to be aware that a home may need further specialized attention to be truly certain that things are in order.

For more information on purchasing a home in Granbury please contact us anytime.