Which Inspections Are Most Important… and Why

1)  Definitely, do the general home inspection when buying a home.  The five big areas inspected are the roof, the foundation, the plumbing, the electric, and the HVAC.  These are the most important because they are the most-costly to repair or replace.  The home inspection company will supply a checklist of the items found highlighting the critical, important, and incidental items.  The safety hazards need to be addressed immediately.  The Seller should be willing to fix these items because they will be found by any inspector and any buyer.  They don’t just go away.

2)  A termite inspection is important on an older home, especially if it has not been maintained under a Termite Bond or treatment plan.  Termites are very prevalent in Atlanta, and over time, they can do some major damage.  The industry saying goes like this:  There are two kinds of homes in GA, those that have termites, and those that are going to get termites.  For the do-it-yourselfers, save yourself about $800 by getting the detection kits at the big-box stores.

3)  If the house was built prior to 1978, it most definitely has lead-based paint on the walls and ceilings.  The danger with this paint occurs when the paint is disturbed.  Even the dust from sanding lead-based paint is dangerous.  Assume that there is lead-based paint on the wall, and proceed with caution when making any kind of interior home repairs.  Major projects may legally require permits to modify or replace any items containing lead-based paint.

4)  A home can also be inspected for Mold by a remediation company, especially if someone in the family is mold-sensitive.  This one is the culprit for a lot of allergies.  Water and heat are the catalysts for this one.  That’s another good reason to have the general home inspection done before buying a home.

5)  A lot of Atlanta neighborhoods, mostly in the suburbs, have higher than average Radon gas.  It’s worth the money to know for sure.  The test can be performed by a testing company, or, many of the home renovations companies sell the testing kits for the do-it-yourself tester. 

Please, for your family’s safety, install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.  If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you by your local fire department.  They’re free.  And, put yourself on a safety calendar by changing the batteries in your detectors in the Spring and the Autumn when we change time.  It’s an easy reminder.  Yes, maybe the batteries are still working, but they’re cheap compared to the loss of a human life.  And change the battery in your thermostat at the same time.