Home and Property Inspections
In our advice a home inspection is highly recommended, even though it is not
required. The home or property inspections are paid by the buyer and
it is written in the sales contract that you as the buyer has the right to
have a inspection completed.
There are different types of inspections and we will briefly explain the
common types for the Swansboro Onslow County area.
Home Inspection.
A home inspection can be preformed prior to the acceptance of a contract,
but only with the sellers permission. A real estate home inspection is
generally completed with in the first week after the acceptance of the
contract. Home inspectors are required to be licensed by the North
Carolina Home Inspections Board and most home inspectors are licensed
general contractors. A good home inspector has a wide variety of
knowledge about the structural aspect of a home and they systems.
But a home inspector is generally not a licensed structural engineer.
It is also adviced by CENTURY 21 American Properties, Inc that you attend a
your home inspection. The Home inspector will walk you through the
home, will give you tips on maintaining the property and show you some of
his concerns. Attending a home inspection can be very informative and
a learning experience.
Depending on which home inspector you hire, they will check all the
properties major systems to make sure they are functioning as intended.
If the home inspector notes any problems they will be put on their report.
Some home inspectors do not check items such as your heating and air system
and might recommend you have a certified heating and air technician take a
look at the system, for example. A good home inspector will crawl
under the house if the house is built on a crawl space and crawl up into the
attic. They will be looking for standing water, major wood rot and
leaks to name a few items. A home inspector does not do the repairs
for you but identifies problems.
The home inspector will check all the systems inside the house to make sure
they are performing correctly.
Roof Inspection
If your home inspector notices anything irregular about the roof on the
property they will also note this on their report. If they note
a problem, most home inspectors will recommend you have a certified roofer
to inspect the roof closer.
Septic Tanks
Generally a home inspector will not inspect your septic tank. This is
a separate inspection that you will get from a verified septic systems
inspector. The septic tank inspector will pull the cover off the
property and note is it is functioning as intended or if there are any signs
of previous failures. Does it need to be pumped? Is the
distribution box working correctly? What is the general overview of
the system? CENTURY 21 American Properties, inc highly
recommends, if you are purchasing a property with a septic system that you
have it inspected.
Mold
Mold is a growing issue lately and a mold inspection is your option.
There are various types of molds virtually every property, some may be
harmful and others are not.
Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor
and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors,
they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order
to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often
occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or
un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold
spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is
to control moisture. (from
US Environmental
Protection Agency website)
Lead Base Paint
There are professional inspectors that will perform a lead based paint
inspection on the home or property if you desire. Homes built prior to
1978 may have lead based paint in them. Please ask your agent for more
information.Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for
many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range
of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to
seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most at risk, because
their bodies are growing quickly.
Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most
children are:
- deteriorating lead-based paint,
- lead contaminated dust, and
- lead contaminated residential soil.
(from the
US Environmental Protection
Agency)
Termite Inspection
A termite inspection or WDIR-100 (Wood Destroying Insect Report) will be
performed by a licensed pest inspector. In some cases this inspection
will be paid by the seller. The termite inspector will inspect the
exterior foundation of the property and (if on a crawl space) will crawl
under the house and inspect the piers and foundation. If they notice
any active or inactive termites they will note this on their report.
The termite inspector will generally check the crawl space moisture reading.
It is not required but most termite inspector finds any wood destroying mold
or funguses they will also note this.
Survey
A survey of the property will identify the property boundaries. Some
mortgage companies do not require a survey for the property but CENTURY 21
American Properties, Inc feels it is a good idea to have one. The
survey will also note any encroachments on the property, such as a neighbors
fence or outbuilding. If you would like a survey on the property
please ask your CENTURY 21 American Properties, Inc agent for more
information.
This is just a general overview of some of the types of inspections that are
common in this area. There may be more inspections types that are
available and you have a right to have any inspections on the property
performed. All information is believed to be correct.
