Common Home Inspection Findings
These findings were cited most often in a recent survey
of home inspectors:
Improper surface grading and drainage, which is responsible for water penetration in
basements and crawlspaces.
Roof leakage. usually caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing, which may
lead to cosmetic and sometimes structural damage. Approximately 70% of roof leaks are
related to flashings and valleys.
Improper electrical wiring, such as insufficient electrical service to the house,
inadequate overload protection, and unprofessional electrical work.
Heating-system problems, such as broken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked
chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.
Plumbing problems (such as old or incompatible piping materials, faulty fixtures, and
improperly vented waste lines) that may cause considerable interior damage.
Exterior flaws in windows, doors, and wall surfaces that allow water and air penetration.
Poor overall maintenance demonstrated by cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces.
Structural problems involving foundation walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door
headers.
Poor ventilation caused by over-sealing, which results in excessive interior moisture,
development of mold and fungus, and rotting or premature failure of both structural and
non-structural components.
 Escape Windows ...
Sleeping rooms and living areas are
required to have at least one primary and one secondary means of escape - one door and one
window, for example. The requirements for an escape window are the same as those required
for emergency exits in the Universal Building Code (UBC). The window must be easy to open
without the use of tools and it must have a minimum area of 5.7 square feet, a minimum
clear width of 20 inches, a minimum height of 24 inches, and a maximum sill height of 44
inches.
The lack of proper paths of escape are frequently encountered in the basements of older
homes. Even if the basement is not used for sleeping purposes, finished basements should
have a secondary escape path in case the stairway becomes blocked by smoke or fire. A
proper escape window will allow occupants to easily get outside in an emergency situation. |
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Your Home's Best Friend
You know that loyalty and companionship are
great reasons for having a dog, but did you know that security is the most important
reason of all? Century 21's House & Home Magazine interviewed a veteran thief (he
committed more than 80 burglaries!) who said, "We never burglarized a single house
where we could hear a dog ... why chance it? Hit another house."
Hired Help
Tired of cleaning your home? You're not alone -
it's estimated that 9.4 million households (9% of all U.S. households) will pay a
professional to clean their houses this year. That's according to Mediamark Research who
expects that number to jump to 9.9 million by the year 2000! Last year, 11% of married,
dual income couples use a cleaning service, compared to 10% of those with children under
18. |
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