Can You Trust a Home Inspection Report?
During the purchase of a home you will no doubt contract with a home inspector to look everything over at the house. There is a section for structural systems on the report. Rarely in north Texas does an inspection come back “clean” in this section. Do not panic! Inspectors are trained to point out any issue they can find. It does not necessarily mean you have a structural problem that requires foundation repair. The bottom line is: the average inspector has limited training on foundation types and problems. If you get a report that is dinged in this section, simply call us for help! Our DFW repair experts can investigate the issues brought up by the home inspector and give you a true evaluation of the seriousness of the problem and whether or not it will adversely affect the home’s value.
An inspection report is an integral part of the home-buying process. After all, you want to be sure your future home sweet home is up to par with building codes. However, exactly how reliable are these home inspection reports?
What Does a Home Inspection Report Include?
When touring a prospective future home, it’s not enough to just admire the granite countertops or built-in redwood cabinetry. A report evaluates what isn’t visible to the untrained eye. A home inspection is thorough and detects defects that would entail costly repairs. This may include:
- Pipe leaks and other plumbing issues, including furnaces and heaters
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Energy efficiency deficiencies
- The condition of the roof
- HVAC, heating and cooling systems
- The condition of the foundation
Home sellers in Texas will usually need to acquire a home report for prospective buyers. Home buyers may also acquire their own report. Detected defects can be used as a bargaining chip for bringing down the cost. Aside from sellers and buyers, home builders may also need to acquire a report if they’re selling a new and recently constructed home. The same goes for extensively renovated homes that have yet to be occupied in their remodeled state.
How Reliable Is the Report?
Inspectors may not be trained in every single one of the above points. They may only have a baseline knowledge. As such, they may miss small details that may manifest as more severe problems a few years down the road. This is especially true with respect to the foundation. This component requires very specialized knowledge that an inspector trained to look at the whole home may not possess.
A home inspector’s report is not necessarily unreliable. It is indeed a very vital aspect of the home transaction process. However, it should not be the end of the story. Both home buyers and sellers should perform a crosscheck when evaluating qualified inspectors. They should also be willing to bring in another inspector for a second opinion if they have any reason to question the validity of the original inspector’s findings.
You Can Rely on Our Dallas-Fort Worth Foundation Repair Experts
Our Dallas-Ft. Worth foundation repair service areas encompass Plano and surrounding regions. Whether you’re a home buyer or seller, contact us at Align Foundation Repair if a home inspector report lists foundational damage in its initial findings.
