Answer: There are many different people involved in
the building and construction of any new home, such as electricians, plumbers,
carpenters, general contractors, painters, roofers, HVAC technicians, etc.
Sometimes mistakes are made during construction and/or items are not thoroughly
completed as specified. For instance, during new construction home inspections,
I have encountered problems with plumbing where the hot and cold water were
reversed at sinks, in toilets (hot water only), showers that had only cold water
(or no water) and bathtubs with only hot water which can be dangerous. There
was one newly constructed house I inspected where the dining room electrical
outlets had not been connected to the circuit breaker panel and there was no
electricity in this room. This house had already had a �certificate of
occupancy� from the town. I�ve also encountered
inadequate drainage around the property and foundation causing water and
moisture in the basement areas. These are only a few of the items that I�ve
seen during my inspections of �new� construction.
Answer: Your common charges do not cover all of
your maintenance in your condo. Remember, you own the �inside of your condo.�
Your home inspection will give you a better understanding of how things operate
in your condo like the heating system, water heater, air conditioning system,
appliances, and the approximate age of these systems which have limited life
spans. Some of these items can be very expensive to replace and could break
down shortly after your closing. It would be in your best interest to be able
to budget for future repairs and replacements of mechanical systems and
appliances. I find that many condos that I inspect, especially in the lower
Fairfield area, have older systems that will need replacing soon. One of the
biggest issues in condos is the windows, which most of the time are the condo
owner�s responsibility to repair and/or replace them. The most common issues
with the windows are the vacuum seals in thermal pane windows that have failed
or are failing and need replacing. This can be a very expensive issue which
should be addressed before closing. Many home sellers, their Realtors, and
their attorneys insist on a
licensed home inspector�s written opinion before considering any credits,
repairs, or replacements.
Answer: ABSOLUTELY! Even though you
may not be given any
credits or concessions during this sale, you should know what will need repairing and/or
replacing before you buy this property and how long you can wait to do it (some
repairs or replacements will require immediate attention). A thorough home inspection by a
competent, licensed, and insured home inspector who has experience with
inspecting these types of properties will give you a better
understanding of any structural problems (like roofing, siding, foundation,) as well as mechanical problems (like
heating, cooling, electrical), and the operation of the appliances, etc. An
undetected structural problem such as foundation settling, improper structural
supports, clogged and/or blocked chimneys, and other problems like carbon monoxide build up around the
heating system, and roofing problems can be dangerous for you and/or cost you
thousands of dollars. I�ve also encountered a number of
properties with pest and rodent problems which had caused damage, sometimes
extensive and severe. MOST IMPORTANTLY -- APPRAISERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOME
OF THESE ITEMS TOO. AN INSPECTION WOULD GIVE YOU A "HEADS UP" ON PROBLEMS
THAT WOULD PREVENT BANKS FROM LENDING ON THESE PROPERTIES...SO DON'T SPEND THAT
EXTRA MONEY UNTIL YOU'VE HAD YOUR INSPECTIONS.
Answer: You should look at your house as an
investment and you should look at a home inspection as research on your
investment. Home inspections can uncover potential problems that may
cost you thousands of dollars that you haven�t budgeted for. For some people,
this can be a major setback to home ownership. If you�re already spending top
dollar for your home, do you have several thousand dollars extra set aside for
unexpected repairs and replacements. If you don�t, a home inspection is a very
good way to protect your investment and also help you determine if you can
really afford the house and it's problems.
Answer: Not everything in a
renovated home is always �new.� Most of the renovated properties are built
onto and expanded over an old foundation or old frame of a house. There can also
be wood destroying insects and/or previous water damage
which can cause mold growth, or could be structurally deficient. Sometimes, the
electrical and plumbing have only been partially updated to accommodate the
�new� portions of the home. I have inspected many renovated homes and have still
discovered costly issues and problems which have saved my clients time,
aggravation, and money.
Answer: Radon is a
naturally occurring gas that you can't see, smell, or taste. It is
produced by the decay of underground sources of uranium, which is a radioactive
metallic agent found in rocks and soils. Radon gas easily moves through
soils and foundations of homes. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA
(Radon)),
radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. Radon removal systems should be installed in houses and condos
to reduce
the concentration of radon gas if it exceeds the EPA�s current action level
of 4 pCi/L (written as picocuries per liter of air). For health purposes
and also for resale
purposes, wouldn�t you want to know about what the level of radon gas is in your
home? For more information about radon gas, click the following link
Radon Gas
Information.
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information@scottandscotthomeinspections.com with questions or comments
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Scott and Scott Inc. Home Inspection Services, Stamford,
Connecticut, USA.
