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What Is A Home Inspection?
A Home Inspection is a visual inspection of the exterior, structure,
roof, garage, attic, basement/crawlspace, plumbing, electric, heating
& A/C, and interior rooms of a home.
The home inspection will also include an evaluation of the installed
& readily accessible components of the home. The home inspection
should be made by a qualified professional, who is trained and has
experience in evaluating all the component features in a house,
and who is able to give a clear and accurate picture of the condition
of these components.
It is important to remember that a Home Inspection is basically
visual in nature, with no intrusive drilling or digging performed.
When you and your Home Inspector have completed the Inspection,
the house must be in the same (or better) condition than it was
when you first began.
A Home Inspection should have a distinct two-prong focus. First,
the primary goal is to clearly identify any potential significant
defect that will affect your buying decision. Second, is to clearly
identify any areas in need of near term repairs, or any components
that are reaching the end of their useful life span. Even though
it is secondary, this area provides very useful information that
you will need when setting up your maintenance budget.
A quality Home Inspection, performed by a professional, is designed
to provide you with the information you need to make a more informed
decision about your potential purchase. You should be able to walk
away from the Inspection knowing, in a clear way, what your immediate
major issues are (if any), and what items will need repair, maintenance
or further evaluation by a licensed or certified craftsman in the
near term.
Radon Testing According to the Surgeon General, Radon is the second
leading cause of lung cancer.
Every house has radon; the question is, how much. The EPA's limit
is 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The only way to find out if
radon is present is to test for it.
The test should be considered reliable only if the house has had
its windows and doors closed for at least 12 hours before and during
the test. The test should be for a time period of not less than
48 continuous hours after closing home. The test kit should be placed
in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement
if it is frequently used, otherwise the first floor). For real estate
purposes, the test should be in lowest occupiable space of a home
such as an unfinished basement if one exists. It can be put in a
room that is used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or
bedroom) but not in your kitchen or bathroom. The test kit is to
be placed at least 20 inches above the floor where it will not be
disturbed and away from drafts, high heat, high humidity and placed
a minimum of three feet away from exterior walls.
If the test is positive you may want to have a radon reduction system
installed. The cost for such a system can range from $500 to $2,500
depending on how the house is constructed. This average is taken
directly from the EPA, our experience indicates a slightly higher
lower end in Colorado.
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Purchase your home with confidence!
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