http://www.whichmortgage.ca/article/are-home-inspections-a-thing-of-the-past-222442.aspx
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Are homeinspections a thing of the past?
Pillar ToPost Home Inspectors®, the largest home inspection company in NorthAmerica, is offering advice to new homeowners in the Greater TorontoArea and beyond.
“Weunderstand the competitive nature of supply and demand,” said DanSteward, president and CEO of Toronto based Pillar To Post HomeInspectors.
“Buyersare afraid that if they put in an offer contingent on the outcome of a homeinspection, they may lose the home to three or four other bidders who arewilling to take the risk of
buying the home without thatcontingency.”
Stewardcontinued, “If you really feel you need to go this route, we suggest a newbuyer immediately should call in a home inspector after closing.
Ifthere are minor issues, a home inspector can spot them and the problems can befixed and eradicated before they become not so minor problems.”
For example, a recent home inspection done by Pillar To Post revealed a crackin the cement floor of a garage attached to an expensive home.
Whilethis crack looked very tiny, and could have been easily overlooked by someonewithout experience, the home inspector later revealed to the buyer that it wasthere as a result
of a giant oak tree next to the garage.
Theroots were so huge that eventually the entire floor would be broken by thegrowth of the enormous tree.
Byremoving the tree then, the cost was only a few hundred dollars, but in fiveyears, the inspector said, the entire garage floor would have needed to be jackhammered and then replaced
with a newly constructed concrete floor.
Thecost of that job would be in the thousands.
Here aresome tips from Pillar To Post Home Inspectors that can help a new homeownercatch little problems before they become big problems.
- Often,insulation is lacking in a home’s attic. A professional can determine if moreshould be added.
- [FONT=Arial]Sootbuilds up in chimneys quickly, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning andposing a fire hazard.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial] A certified chimney sweep should be hired toroutinely clean your chimney to prevent buildup.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]A loosetoilet seat is a sign of a bigger issue than just being uncomfortable—a seatthat rocks could indicate that the seal at the base has failed, [/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]which canallow water to leak causing significant damage.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Theelectrical outlets we have are sometimes incapable of handling the large amountof gadgets we now throw at them[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]. Consulta certified electrician to install additional outlets to handle the increasedload.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Plants tooclose to a home’s siding can cause moisture damage and premature wear.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Downspouts that discharge water from a home often release against walls, which cancause the foundation to deteriorate and cause water to enter the basement.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial] Redirect these spouts away from the structure.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Chimneys,ovens or range filters can become clogged, posing a major fire hazard. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Checkfilters for built-up grease, and consult a professional to check theconnections to determine if the model needs exterior exhaust.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Sealsaround kitchen and bathroom sink fixtures can become loose leading to waterdamage. Examine seals and test and replace if loose.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial]Roofsdon’t last forever. When purchasing a home, consult a professional homeinspector to determine both the age and condition of the roof.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial] Even if you already bought the home, it’s goodto know what shape of the roof is in right now. Maybe a few minor repairs willmake it wear longer.[/FONT]
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