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HELPFUL TIPS
Home
Inspections Ensure You
Know The House Inside
And Out
Excerpts Courtesy of
FosterFolly News
The last thing a
homebuyer wants to do is
to discover any issues
in the home after moving
in, and the last thing a
home seller wants is for
an issue to appear
before the sale. That's
why it's so important
for both buyers and
sellers to have a home
inspection. Simply put,
the seller doesn't want
a surprise he or she
didn't even know about
to come out that will
stop the sale, and the
buyer wants to make sure
there are no costly
repairs waiting.
Home inspections provide
many positives and build
a foundation of
knowledge about a home
and its systems that are
stated in the Home
Inspection Report-which
contains a maintenance
checklist.
"Homebuyers don't want
to get a cold reception
because of improperly
sealed windows or a wet
one because of a leaky
roof," says Dan Steward,
president of Pillar To
Post, North America's
leading provider of home
inspection services.
"Home inspectors check
for these things. They
also check furnaces,
air-conditioning ducts,
soot and creosote
building in the chimney,
crawl spaces and other
hard-to-reach spaces,"
Steward adds.
Four Common Items To
Repair
1. If you discover the
seals around sink
fixtures and counter
penetrations are
disintegrating, that
means water may be
passing through and
causing damage to the
countertop or the
underlying cabinetry.
You may want to examine
the seals visually, and
test to see if the sink
or fixtures feel loose.
Repair or replace as
needed.
2. Clogged filters and
improper duct
connections may become
major fire hazards. You
should check air filters
for built-up grease and
clean or replace as
needed. Have a
professional check the
connections to determine
if the model requires
exterior exhaust.
3. Insufficient
insulation in the attic
can allow excessive heat
loss (or gain, depending
on the season) and
drafts. If you suspect a
problem, consult a
professional to
determine if additional
insulation is needed
and/or advisable.
4. Improperly sealed
windows can allow
moisture, wind and
insects into the house.
The caulking around
windows should be
checked and repaired or
replaced as needed.
To learn more or to find
a home inspector in your
area, visit
www.pillartopost.com.
To find out if the
windows are properly
insulating the home from
the elements, have a
professional examine the
caulking or flashing
around the windows.
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