Things to watch out for during home inspection

FALLBROOK – Home inspections can be as scary as Halloween. There's nothing more frightening than a home inspector coming into a home and pointing out everything that's wrong with it. That's why it's a good idea to have a general understanding of what to look out for.

Water damage

Untreated water damage can spread over time and do serious damage to a property. The damage could be from leaking defects from outdated systems or just something that has been unaddressed for way too long. Drainage systems should also be in mint condition to prevent water intrusion. It's a good idea to make sure all is well to pass the home inspector's moisture test.

Serious structural problems

Like people, houses have skeletons too. And people know that having a broken bone is one of the worst things that can happen and will have a huge impact on their posture and generally how they'll do things. Broken roof trusses or cracks in the foundation are scary and the cost of the repair might be shocking.

Other living things invade your space

The living things could be microbial growth marking the home as its territory, raccoons living inside chimney and termites that literally eat up the home. In certain parts of the United States, home inspectors reported finding a boa constrictor.

Electrical issues that make your hair stand on edge

It could be a tangled mess of electrical wires that looks like a bowl of spaghetti due to poor workmanship, or worse, exposed wires could cause a fire. Home inspectors are not necessarily experts in electrical but know enough to identify things that aren't standard and can advise homebuyers on what should be addressed.

A roof that can't protect you

One of people's most basic needs is to have a roof over their heads, but what if the home's roofing is not safe anymore? Improperly installed or worn-out by age, the home inspector will certainly not be thrilled.

There's no other trick to these problems but to always do maintenance and repairs right away to prevent any more issues that may creep someone out. And a home that is well-maintained is a treat to any homeowner.

What's also a treat is when the seller provides the buyer with a home warranty at closing. With a home warranty, buyers can rest assured that if anything scary comes along, they have the right tool, or treat, to make the issue far more manageable.

If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling or would like a referral to a San Diego County home inspector, feel free to call the agents at Broadpoint Properties.

This article first appeared on Broadpoint Properties' website, https://servingsandiegocounty.com.

Submitted by Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo, broker associate, who can be reached at (760) 532-1057, [email protected] or http://www.ehlentulo.com. CalBRE #01904564