Advice / Home Improvement · July 11, 2018

7 Reasons for Failing a Home Inspection

A home inspection is a physical evaluation of a home on sale. Home inspections are done in an attempt to uncover issues that a home may have. It is important for a home seller to show a potential home buyer that their investment option passed a home inspection. For a home to pass an inspection, no major issues should be found.  The inspection will point out everything that needs to be replaced or repaired before the house can be sold. If you’re looking to sell your home, here’s what will fail a home inspection.

1.      Defective Plumbing

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Clogging and leaking are the two major ways through which poor plumbing can manifest. It is possible for a physical inspection to detect leaking. This is done by turning on the faucets in the highest toilet in your home to check the water pressure. If you can hear the sound of running water, it shows that the water pipes are undersized. If the water that comes out is dirty, it is an indication of rusted pipes. These can cause serious water quality issues. You can always call in a Drain Rescue plumber to check your plumbing before the inspection.

2.      A Damp Basement

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It is possible for water to gain access to your basement. The water in the soil applies pressure on the walls of the basement and eventually causes dampness in the basement. The inspector will look for a powdery white residue to be able to tell whether the floor of your basement is damp.

3.      HVAC Problems

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Most of the problems uncovered by inspectors are related to HVAC systems. For instance, your home may be having a wiring system that is not sufficient enough to handle your heating and cooling need. Alternatively, your gas furnaces may lack the necessary exhaust systems. Other HVAC problems include flue pipes and cracked ductwork.

4.      Roofing Problems

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This is one of the costliest problems to fix in a home. Any issue with your roofing can also be a deal breaker for any potential buyer. As the roofing ages, it is likely to develop problems like leaking as well as water damage. While it takes years for a roof to require repairs, it can also be a problem if the roof wasn’t properly installed when the house was being built.

5.      Rotting Wood

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As the house ages, it is expected that wood may begin to rot. Wood rotting can occur at any point in the house where wood was used to build. Even so, the most common places include sidings, window frames, trim, fences, and decks. A home inspector will check these areas to see if there are any traces of wood rotting. They get curious about wooden areas with fresh painting so it is not advisable to try concealing wood rot with paint.

6.      Security Features

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Most of the time, this has nothing to do with your security systems. Inspectors mostly check for the most basic safety features in your home. They will inspect the doors and windows, the locks and also smoke detectors.