Does a Luxury Home Need a Home Inspection?
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We’ve discussed the common notion that newly constructed homes don’t need a home inspection, which is NOT TRUE! But it turns out that some folks are also under the impression that luxury homes may not need one either.
As if these homes with all their extra bells and whistles, top-tier amenities, and extras are somehow immune to the natural wear and tear of time or neglect of maintenance. Not so! If anything, all the extras just mean there are more things to check and more things that can go wrong.
Here are some examples of #homeinspectionfinds in high-end homes:
Not a Million Dollar Shingle
Just because it’s a million-dollar listing doesn’t mean it’s move-in ready. This roof had multiple problems, including severely damaged shingles. The best practice here would be to have the seller fix the roof before purchasing the property, as not all roof warranties are transferable. Most are, however, so if this is a deal breaker, you’d want to find out about the status of the owner’s policy.
With damage this severe, taking these steps will be crucial because you could end up with an uninsurable roof if you don’t get the correct information at the proper time.
Lack of Maintenance
Sometimes as homeowners we just forget to look up. But there’s a whole world up there that could be falling apart if you’re not careful. This luxury home is suffering some major damage due to lack of maintenance.
The gutters pulling away from the fascia have damaged this structure, and that will cause water to run down the side of the house during a storm, possibly causing flooding in that part of the yard. The secondary drain lines are also causing rusting on the side of the house, which means the primary condensate lines are clogged and likely have been for some time. The exhaust flue is also exposed. Water can flow into it, which could be flooding into the attic.
These are all issues that a potential buyer would not expect to see in a luxury home and would want to address prior to moving in.
When the Bells and Whistles Are Installed Wrong
Oh spray foam, how we love to hate you. Spray foam is probably the best form of attic insulation, but it is often installed incorrectly. When spray foam is done right, it can create a fully encapsulated seal around the attic. However, if there are gas appliances, this situation can be dangerous because combustible air can get locked in the attic. You’ve also sealed up extremely hot or cold air, creating a bed of unconditioned air on top of your house. To alleviate both situations, the correct practice is to install both a supply and return air vent in the attic. Unfortunately, this isn’t always done.
When we catch it in a home inspection, we strongly advise the homeowner to have the company that installed it come back and correct the installation.
