If so, it would certainly help to know the issues that would likely arise in a routine home inspection
Most Homes Listed for Sale Need Repairs
A thorough home inspection is an essential part of buying any home. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “buyers beware,” and that definitely applies when you think about the potential cost of unexpected home repairs. Recent data reveals that a typical home inspection will uncover over $11,000 in necessary repairs.
Repairs Can Get Complicated & Expensive
A recent study by Repair Pricer shows that the average homebuyer can expect to be handed a Home Inspection Report with 20+ needed repairs listed and the estimated cost. The report said that the average cost of each repair would be $542, which comes at a cost of just over $11,200.
However, repair costs could actually go much higher. The most common defects uncovered by routine home inspections are:
- Old roofs needing repair or replacement
- Air conditioning condensers needing repair or replacement
- Heating system needing repair or replacement
- Water heaters needing repair or replacement
- Leaky window seals needing repair
These particular issues appeared in 9 – 20% of all the inspection reports analyzed by the publication. The estimates for these repairs ranged anywhere from $1,000 to nearly $10,000.
In analyzing this further, Repair Pricer concluded that an individual homebuyer would generally come out better if he/she asked the seller for a credit for the total estimated repair costs rather than asking them to be responsible for making the repairs.
The reasoning is that “if the seller does agree to take care of the repairs, they have no legal obligation to ensure that the repair represents quality work. They often choose the cheapest way to go, leaving the buyer at risk of substandard work. Without a transferable warranty, the buyer would have no financial recourse.”
The report goes on to advise “homebuyers to request a credit, which will give them the funds and the flexibility they need to get the defects repaired in a more realistic timeframe. The buyer can then select the contractor who would make the repairs according to their needs and not the seller’s.”
Common Issues in Home Inspection Reports
The most common issue found in the 50,000 reports analyzed by Repair Pricer was doors that needed adjusting or to be serviced. This appeared in nearly 55% of the home inspection reports reviewed and the average cost of addressing this was averaging between $250-$300.
While this might seem like a minor repair, to the experts door problems often indicate a much more serious problem, issues with the foundation. This is a far more expensive repair and may even lead to other repair issues down the road.
The second most common issue involved leaky faucets, with missing sealant and caulking being the third most common problem. The study went on to say, “Over 54% of homes had missing sealant and caulking. When you add this to leaky faucets you can imagine the amount of water penetration in these homes. This will degrade the insulation, wiring, wood and more. The damage that can result from undetected water penetration can be massive. This is easily preventable, but very costly to repair. As anyone knows, water penetration can often lead to mold.”
Other major issues that kept coming up in these inspection reports were electric outlets without any GFCI protection, missing or malfunctioning smoke alarms and cracks in the sheetrock.
Other Issues of Concern
Grade Slopes Toward the House
If the grade slopes back toward the house this creates a situation in which any ground water will drain back toward the structure. This could cause wet crawlspaces under the house, the foundation to move, settle and crack. Moisture seeping up the foundation can cause the walls and framing to rot, as well as mold.
Indicators of movement in the foundation would be tilted uneven windows, interior doors that when they’re closed, have large angled gaps at the top, and/or floors that are visibly not level. If you notice any of these problems, you can only imagine how much it would cost to correct them.
Leaky Roof
When it comes to roofs, aged roofs or improperly installed roofs are issues that commonly appear in home inspection reports. Other roof-related issues that often show up are in the transition areas with either missing or improperly installed flashing. The repairs could end up being fairly straightforward and inexpensive or the entire roof may need replacing. To be on the safe side, a reputable roofing company should evaluate any issues involving the roof.