First-Time Home Buyers: What Will I Find on My Home Inspection Report?

First-time home buyers, or those buying for the first time in a long while might wonder, “What types of things might I find on my home inspection report?” So every now and then, we like to devote a column to common problems you might find in different parts of the house. A little sampling, if you will.

Here are some examples from the field:

New Meaning to The Phrase “No Filter”

No, winter didn’t come early at this house, this is an AC maintenance issue. You know how we like to harp on you about changing your AC filters here at Upon Closer Inspection? These guys had no filter at all. I would never say a dirty air filter is good, but it’s better than no filter. And a frozen compressor may be a broken compressor.

For first-time home buyers, here’s a great, brief video that takes you through AC maintenance 101.

Epic DIY Fail

Rather than fixing the laundry drain, these geniuses got a garden hose and started punching holes in walls and broke their dryer vent in the process. SMH. I could go on, but I feel like Inspector Cody’s disdain is sufficient.

For first-time home buyers, do not cut a hole in your wall and use a garden hose to drain your washer. Call a plumber. Also never, ever DIY electrical.

What You Can’t See From The Ground

This roof looks new and pretty perfect from the ground, and they might have just skipped the roof inspection given the steep pitch. But it’s always best to either walk the roof or have a drone check it out. Case in point: the deficiencies Inspector Alex finds in the area are not visible from the ground. (If that is, you can focus on the roof deficiencies and not whether Inspector Alex is going to fall off the roof in this video. Yikes.)

For first-time home buyers, the roof is one of the most expensive parts of the house, so pay close attention to any issues, and ask to see the warranty and/or any repair receipts. If there are repair concerns, find out if the seller’s insurance will cover it before the sale.

Where’s The Water Heater?

People do the darnedest things when they flip houses. But you would want to know before you move into a house that you’re going to have to relocate the water heater because this is just a bad idea. Whenever you need to check, adjust, or repair your water heater, you have to belly crawl under the air handler, and then… I don’t know. It doesn’t look like there’s room to stand up over there.

For first-time home buyers, if you can’t access the water heater, or any major appliance or utility, this is a big problem that you need to factor in the cost of the home, either in the negotiation of the purchase or in your expenses after the fact.

You never know what you’re going to find when you’re doing home inspections, and that fact right there is why you should always have one, whether you’re buying a brand new home or an older home, a large home or a tiny home. Every homeowner should know as much as they can about the home they live in so they can maintain it properly, and plan for future expenses.