THIS article tackles the possible various defects found in a home inspection after a certain property has been earmarked to be sold to a potential buyer and consequently inspected. Before the inspection though, the team must be constituted by the potential buyer and not by the seller, not even the realtor. The buyer must compose his or her team with several persons. Foremost on the team is the buyer’s lawyer which must have a basic background on the local real estate and tax laws in the area where the property is located.

Remember that just like any other kind of law; there are three forms of real estate laws to be looked into – federal, state and local. The lawyer must also be prepared to examine the relevant real estate tax laws in the area. In certain cities, local governments also collect from the property owner a monthly garbage collection tax. The team’s second member must be your real estate broker.

The team’s third member must be a structural engineer who will scrutinize the foundations and the columns of the property for sale. The team’s fourth member must be an electrical engineer who will evaluate the current locations of electric wires in the house. The team’s fifth member must be a plumber who will inspect the quality of all pipes and vents in the property. The team’s sixth member must be an architect who will air his or her professional opinion on the house’s attractiveness from the outside. The team’s seventh member must be an interior designer who can give honest views if the house needs a renovation as far as placement of furniture and other relevant things are concerned.

A home inspection is definitely needed prior to the sale of a property because there may be a lot of defects that can be uncovered. For example, if the roof of the house is already worn, then replacing it is a pain to the new owner as far as expenses are concerned. Thus, the budget for the roof replacement, including the cost of labor, must be added to the price of the property. By home inspection, it doesn’t just mean the physical inspection of the place. That’s why a lawyer is needed to dig into the legal aspect of the property. The lawyer must know if there is a hidden debt associated with the property. The lawyer must make it sure that the debt will not be retained by the new owner of the property. If termites are ultimately found in the basement of the property, then that’s another problem.

It may be an indication that the wooden portions of the house are already being eaten up by ants. This must be looked into more closely as the potential buyer definitely doesn’t want to purchase a crumbling property. Otherwise, buying an empty lot and constructing an all-new structure on it will be more feasible. Other areas to look for are the elevation of the house if it can be prone to floodwater. Don’t just take the owner’s word. Learn also of the climate in the area and look closely into the elevation of the neighborhood whether it is prone to floods.