Tips And Tricks For Addressing Common Inspection Areas
If you're a homeowner who's concerned about passing your home inspection, you may think that the only way to pass is to hire professionals. While this is true of some things, such as pest removal, there are some things you can do yourself to improve your chances of passing home inspections.
Drainage
How your home handles rainwater is one of the most important things to investigate when there are drainage problems. This means that your gutters/eavestroughs must be in optimal working condition all the way around your home.
Check your home to ensure that your gutters have a downward slope of one inch for every two feet they are run. This will ensure complete drainage. Homes with a width greater than 35 feet should have gutters which descend from a high point at the middle of the home, with downspouts installed at each end of the home.
Ensure all of your gutters are firmly attached with screws, and that they are aligned with downspout centers, under your roof's lip.
Grading and slope are also vital to ensure proper drainage. The property around your home should slope at least six inches in the initial ten feet from your home, and then slope to at least one foot thereafter. Any low spots in your property should be filled to ensure proper drainage.
Pest Control
If you have found pests in or around your home, the best thing to do is to identify it. This will let you know what kind of pest you are working with. There are many online resources dedicated to the classification of insects and other pests. You will also find resources covering how best to control the pest.
If it's time to hire a professional, asking those you know is a good idea. But doing some research on your own is just as vital. Try and call at least 3 companies and review their methods carefully, as well as their customer service records. Ask them if they offer any non-toxic alternatives, and always ensure the company has the proper licensing and certification.
After the company inspects your home, review all solutions carefully and ask questions about the application of the solution, such as where in your home it will be applied. After application, staying in touch with the pest control company is important so that they know of any changes in your pest situation. And during this time, doing what you can to keep pest populations down, such as getting rid of any attractants on a regular basis.
Finding A Good Home Inspector
Certification isn't always indicative of the quality of a home inspector. That's why it's important to look for some kind of association with a professional inspection organization in addition to any certification. Your real estate agent may have also recommended a certain inspector, but this shouldn't be considered the only source of quality information - always conduct your own research. And finally, when you speak with an inspector, ask questions about their resume and experience.