Nemmadi Knowledge
“We Shocked. We Outraged. We Didn’t Do Anything Wrong — We Just Did It First!”
paving the path for Total Peace of Mind for home buyers
Summary
⁃ What is included in a typical home inspection?
⁃ What are the most common home inspection problems?
⁃ What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?
⁃ How long should a home inspection take?
⁃ What is the next step after home inspection?
What is included in a typical home inspection?
The standard home inspector’s report will cover the condition of the home’s Civil Engineering workmanship; interior plumbing system works (water, geyser, shower, sink, etc.,); electrical system; the roof (if a villa or house); walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; and structural components. We will also measure the carpet area of your apartment as defined by RERA. An audit of presence of dampness is also conducted.
It is important to note that there may be some exceptions. If certain areas are inaccessible (deep cleaning not done, locked door, tenant’s belongings in the way) or unsafe conditions (poor structural integrity) the inspector will explain the situation and note that they were not able to assess that specific area or system.
What are the most common home inspection problems?
The 6 most-common home inspection problems
Cosmetic flaws and minor repairs, like a chipped kitchen counter, broken window pane, for example, might come up in an inspection report. However, these small items will rarely cause a major problem. It’s the costly and often hidden problems that can unprecedented problems. Here are some of the most common things that we see fail during a home inspection.
Problem #1: Hollow Tiles
According to the Indian codes, there should be no hollowness when tiles are laid. This is practically not feasible, because of which we follow the Australian Standards which allow for 20% of the area to be hollow under a tile as permissible (Source: AS-3958.1–2007-Ceramic-tiles-Guide-to-the-installation-of-ceramic-tile)
Problem #2: Slope issues for water flow
The slope in a balcony, in the wet and or dry area of a bathroom and in some cases the bathtub may not be sufficient. This could lead to water not draining out but accumulating and flowing into your home from the balcony or water stagnates in puddles in your bathroom. These stagnant pools may be a slipping hazard.
Problem #3: Plumbing problems
Damaged pipes, malfunctioning water heaters, and backed-up sewage systems are costly to fix and common things that fail a home inspection. The water pressure in your faucet may not be sufficient, water leaks may occur when plumbing fixtures are turned on etc.,
Problem #4: Pest infestations
There is nothing that will send some homebuyers running quite like an infestation of pests, especially termites. Termites and other wood-eating insects can cause significant structural damage if left untreated. A home inspector is trained to identify signs of termites, however, your buyer might also want to perform a separate termite inspection with a pest control company for additional peace of mind.
Problem #5: Hidden mold
Discovering mold during inspection can spell trouble, apart from the fact that it smells awful. Extensive mold infestations can be expensive to remediate. But if you don’t detect musty odours in your home then you probably don’t have to worry. Mold is caused by excessive moisture added with lack of air circulation and is usually a sign of a leak or drainage issue.
Problem#6: Electrical Issues
Home inspectors commonly encounter problems with electrical wiring such as no power supply at a point, reverse polarity, failed Earthing, missing junction boxes, and damaged plug points to name a few.
What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?
There is no such thing as a mandatory fix after a home inspection — at least not legally.
Inspections can turn up all kinds of issues, from mold, plumbing issues, electrical issues etc. This means that some repairs are necessary to make a home habitable, while others fall more in the “nice to have” category but may not need to happen before the buyer moves in.
In general, buyers should request fixes that address health hazards or major risks to the property. These may include:
- Mold or water damage.
- Pest infestation.
- Leaking Plumbing fixtures
- Fire or electrical hazards.
- Major cracks
- Building code violations.
- Trip hazards.
- Fire or electrical hazards.
- Non-functioning Hardware
How long should a home inspection take?
It depends upon the size of the home and the number of rooms. An average inspection takes about 4–4½ hours (add 1–1½ hours for a Villa). The time is well-spent considering there are more than 1500 checklist items checked in the average 2000 square feet home.
A pre-purchase home inspection, performed by a professional, is a visual examination of the readily-accessible areas of a home to provide an accurate evaluation of the home’s condition at the time of inspection. Home inspections are designed to disclose defects in the property that could materially affect its safety or liveability. They are not meant to disclose cosmetic defects. The home inspection evaluation is presented to the buyer in a comprehensive report so buyers are fully informed of the home’s condition prior to moving in.
What is the next step after home inspection?
After you have received your home inspection report, you will need to do the following:
- Read your home inspection report and understand it before speaking to your builder
- Discuss your home inspection report with your home inspection company if you need any clarification
- Use the inspection report to prepare a repair addendum and have a chat with your CRM member of the builder
- Request to have Repairs Made by the builder since you have rights as a consumer especially if your property comes under RERA
