Problems in a property include weather damages, pests, and leaks. As a buyer, not being thorough in the home inspection process would cost you more even after you’ve bought the house at a cheap price.

This is because these damages will worsen over time. Not only will they get worse, but the situation will also start to affect different parts of the house. Even if you bought the house at a low price for fix-and-flipping, it is still important to inspect every nook and cranny because the house you’ve bought might need repairs in amounts greater than your expected profit.

You can hire a professional home inspector for this but it is better that you do it yourself if you want to save money.

1. Check the roof for damages

A leaking roof will result in more damages and molding to the wall, flooring, basement, columns, etc. To check for roof damage, inspect the attic or follow a musty smell.

2. Inspect the chimney

Check to see if the chimney’s mortar is cracked or deteriorating. The next step is to inspect if it is properly ventilating. The third most important inspection is the buildup of creosote - a chemical that can combust. You don’t want to live in a house that could blow up on a chilly day.

3. Check for lead paint, radon, and asbestos

Some homes may have been built before 1978 where lead paint wasn’t prohibited. Radon most of the time comes from the ground which is a radioactive gas. Asbestos comes from old and deteriorated insulation. They all have one thing in common - serious health risks. You don’t want to live in a house that would kill you.

4. Look for signs of pest, rodent, and termite infestation

A termite infestation can ruin the house’s structure. If the structure is mainly wood, knock on the columns. If you hear a hollow sound, the termite has already eaten the wood inside. As rodents, gnawing marks and fecal pellets are dead giveaways.

5. Inspect gutters

Like roof damages, a damaged gutter can also cause more problems in a home. But instead of the damages happening inside, it happens on the exterior. Check to see if the waterway is bent, pulling away from the home, clogged by twigs, leaves, and other debris.

6. Look for molds

Molds may not pose a high health risk same as asbestos, lead, and radon. But they are equally harmful to people who have sensitivity issues and allergies. Molds also ruin a home’s indoor air quality by causing an unpleasant odor. Where there is moisture, there will be molds. To find them, inspect the attic, basement, under sink shelves, and areas near water pipes.

7. Inspect the septic system

One of the most expensive home repairs is repairing a damaged septic system. To check the condition of the home’s human waste storage, see if the drains are working properly - kitchen sink, bathroom drains, toilet flushing. It would be inconvenient to live in a house just to encounter the matter you flushed yesterday as you make today’s deposit.

8. Check the smoke detectors

Stay safe from fires. Press the test button of the smoke detectors to see if the device works. If the device produces a weak sound, ask the home seller to change batteries and re-test. Don’t be interested in a house that has no fire alarm. That house isn’t fire safety compliant.

There are a lot of inspections you should make when you’ve taken interest in a property. This is just the first list. Next week will be the second part. But for now, list down these tips as a reference for your next home-buying inquiry.

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