Wednesday, February 10, 2016

What Is Inspected In A Home Inspection?

Buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks is a complicated process with lots of required steps, and having a real estate agent in Sunrise Beach to guide you can make a world of difference. One of the steps you will have to take is hiring a professional home inspector to perform a thorough inspection of the property. This week, Eagle's Nest Realty, Inc. is here to help you get a better understanding of this important part of the process.


The Home Inspection

During the inspection, the inspector will closely evaluate every aspect of the property to determine its current condition. The inspection report will contain a detailed analysis of the inspector's findings. This report aims to uncover any potential issues with the property, especially anything that could lead to costly repairs. When these issues are identified before the closing, the buyer has the opportunity to negotiate the cost of these repairs into the home purchase (or potentially back out of the sale altogether). There are a couple of different ways to negotiate the cost of repairs in a home purchase:
  • The sellers can perform any necessary repairs before the closing date.
  • The sellers can reduce the sale price to accommodate for the buyers' cost of the required repairs.
  • The sellers can contribute to the closing costs in exchange for the buyers covering the cost of the repairs.

After the closing date, any issues with the property will become the buyers' responsibility - regardless of whether or not the buyers were aware of these issues before they purchased the home. It comes as no surprise, then, that the inspection report is an incredibly valuable tool for anyone who is purchasing real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Items Covered In The Home Inspection

As we have discussed, a proper home inspection is incredibly thorough. The inspector should evaluate almost every aspect of the property. Here are a few examples of the items an inspection report should cover. (Source: Angie's List)
  • Structural components: foundation, framing
  • Plumbing systems: water heating equipment, sump pump, drains, pipes
  • Roof system: shingles, skylights, flashing
  • Heating and cooling systems: equipment, venting, energy sources
  • Fireplaces: chimney, vents
  • Electrical system: breakers, fuses, service panels
  • Exterior features: porches, balconies, railings, walkways, siding, soffits, driveways
  • Interior features: walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, stairs, railings
  • Insulation and ventilation

Septic Systems are another very important part of home inspections, especially at the Lake. The current owner of the property will need to locate the tank and uncover it (remove the lid) for the inspector to access the tank. The required tests will include an inspection of the tank and dye flushed into the system from the house. The leech field should show no color on the surface to pass. Never buy a house without testing the septic system! If the home is on a private well, the water should also be tested for coliform bacteria by a commercial or government laboratory.

While it may not be a comprehensive list, this should help you get a better understanding of the home inspection and the types of things covered in the process.

Questions About Buying A House? We Have Answers!

If you have additional questions about buying real estate and what the process looks like, don't be afraid to give us a call at 877-452-5338. Our team of experienced real estate professionals at the Lake of the Ozarks would be honored to help you in any way we can. We look forward to talking to you!



Eagle's Nest Realty, Inc.                                               Like Us On Facebook
Bill & Sky Johnson                                                             Follow Us On Twitter
33431 Evanston Road                                                          Find Us On LinkedIn
Sunrise Beach, MO  65079                                                     +1 Us On Google+

No comments:

Post a Comment