Table of Contents
- What Are Netting Escrows & How Does It Work?: The Best Guide - January 2, 2024
- The Secret About Prescriptive Easement: Top Guide 1 Must Know - December 4, 2023
- About Home Equity Loans In Texas And How Can One Obtain It - November 27, 2023
Home Inspection Checklist for Home Buyers
If you are looking to buy a new home, then you definitely need to know everything about the house you want to buy. The interiors, the paint, the heating system, the roof, the air condition, etc.
All these need to be checked and made sure it is in perfect working condition. So today, we will understand different types of home inspection checklist in Texas for new buyers.
This will help you to assess the actual value of the home you are buying before signing the contract.
General Home Inspections in Texas
A generally licensed home inspector goes through around 1600 points home inspection checklist and inspect your new home and share their concerns with you.
That is when you will come to know if you need to call these additional home inspectors to come in and take a closer look while conducting a home inspection in Texas.
Chimney Inspections in Texas
Some older homes may or may not have flues or liners inside the chimney. So having a certified chimney inspector come in and investigate can save you a lot of hassles down the road and potentially prevent a fire inside your house.
A general home inspector will make a note of this if they have any concerns while going through a home inspection in Texas.
Electrical Home Inspections in Texas
While conducting a home inspection in Texas, your general home inspector would have noted the logical panel on the outside of the house. It might be too old, and they might indicate you saying that the electrical panel is very old and does not look to code.
In such a case you might want to have an electrician take a look and investigate further and let you know what the best possible solutions are.
The best way to understand is to ask the electrician what kind of breakers are in there, google that part and see how long they usually last.
Search the part for the best price online or at a local electrical store and ensure all the necessary parts are in the electrical panel.
Lead-Based Paint
Homes built before 1978 might need this type of home inspection in Texas. Your general inspector would let you know any concerns about the presence of lead-based paint. You should have also received a lead-based paint disclosure if the house was built before 1978.
The federal government outlawed the use of lead-based paint in 1978, that is why if the house is built after 1978, it should not be an issue for you.
If it was built prior, then you do reserve the right to have a lead-based paint inspection done and hire a contractor to come in and remove it. This is one of the critical home inspection checklists that you need to be aware of.
HVAC Inspections
HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems or some people simply call it our climate control.
While conducting a home inspection, the general inspector will do what is called a temperature differential on the unit to make sure it has an adequate supply of heating and air conditioning coming out within acceptable norms in your area.
If there is any concern with the unit, they will share that with you, and it might be time to contact an HVAC technician to come in for a closer look at the same.
Pest Inspections
With termites running around the country as they tend to do, they like to eat wood. But there are different types of species of termites that might be in your area or not.
There are types of termites that like to eat rotting decaying wood, and there are other types that like to eat healthy wood.
Contact a pest control specialist if that is the concern raised by the general inspector while conducting the home inspection and have a pest inspection done.
Structural / Foundation Inspections
If this is of concern to your general inspector while going through the home inspection, they would have raised the alarm with some foundation cracks they have found.
A structural or foundation inspector will be able to go and let you know if there is any problem with the foundation or the structure of the property or if it is sliding off its foundation.
Roof Inspections
If you are concerned about the roof is a little old and wondering about wear out and replacing the roof. You might want to have what is called a ‘roof certification’ done. Some sellers may be willing to pay for this during the closing process.
If not, you might want to consider paying it yourself so that you have peace of mind moving forward.
When selecting a roof inspector, please make sure they are not in the roof replacement business themselves; otherwise, they might try to entice you to replace or patch the roof.
Make sure the roof inspector is always honest and ethical with you during the roof inspection and certification process.
Water and Plumbing Systems Inspections
A plumber will be able to let you know if the pipe in this house is galvanized and if it should be replaced. Sometimes galvanized pipes could be so clogged that you can’t even put a number two pencil through the pipeline.
This obviously is going to restrict a lot of your water flow into your home, reducing your water pressure and potentially have some contamination inside your water.
Inspections for Gases and Chemicals
Specifically, when we talk about gases and chemicals in a home, we are talking about radon levels, methane levels, and Formaldehyde levels.
If your general home inspector raises the alarm here, you might want to have the gases tested in your house to alleviate the toxins.
Conclusion
Now that we have learned different types of home inspections in Texas, and what a home inspector looks for during a home inspection, and how long things are going to last in your new home, depending on the general inspector’s notifications.
You can determine which kind of inspection is essential for your home. Knowing about the home inspection checklist when buying a home could help you to choose the right home for your future.
Wow, I never knew that a home’s paint could be a health hazard because of lead-based wall paints. Your idea of having a home thoroughly inspected before moving in is a great idea. I’ll keep this in mind and seek an inspector once I’m ready to buy one.
I just finished reading your blog post about “Roof Certification: What You Need to Know,” and I wanted to drop a comment to express my gratitude for shedding light on this crucial topic. Your insights are incredibly valuable for homeowners like me who are navigating the complexities of roof maintenance and potential replacements.
Your suggestion of getting a roof certification done is something I hadn’t considered before. It’s reassuring to know that this can provide peace of mind, especially when it comes to the uncertainty of an older roof. The emphasis on finding an impartial roof inspector who isn’t tied to the replacement business is a fantastic point that I’ll definitely keep in mind.