Congrats! Your
offer has been accepted and you are officially in escrow. Now what? Usually the first order of business is to arrange
your Charleston home inspection. When you were house hunting, you were weighing
so many factors it was next to impossible to thoroughly examination of every nook
and corner of every one of the serious contenders…in fact, it wasn’t necessary.
But now that you’re moving forward to a purchase, you want to do more than kick
the tires. It’s time to get under the hood!
Here is a
taste of just some of the areas you and your inspector will be examining during
your Charleston, SC home inspection:
Plumbing
You will be
taking a close look at the tiles around the handles on the bath tub or shower.
If they are a different color, it could indicate a plumbing problem. A look under
the kitchen sink for stains beneath the pipes can also indicate leaks—something
you’ll want to know more about from the seller.
Mold
HGTV’s home
inspector Rick Yerger lists water as enemy #1. "Of the many homes I have
inspected," he says, "water damage to the structure has been the most
damaging and costly, causing foundation problems, rot and the dreaded
mold." He recommends close examination
of exterior grade for sloping (or
draining) back toward the home; stucco issues where they’re applicable, and
roofing materials.
Inspect the Yard
If there is a
yard on the property, take the time to do a thorough walkover. Look at the
condition of the shrubs, grass and flowers. Check the irrigation, the lighting.
You should also look closely at the fencing and gating: they can be expensive
to repair.
Electricity
Exposed wires
can result in a house fire or other devastating damage. Open splice wire (where
wire is conjoined using only electrical tape and/or wire connectors) is a
common do-it-yourself mistake often seen in attics, garages, and crawlspaces. Any
issues found with the wiring should be corrected ASAP.
These are
only a few of the many areas your Charleston home inspection will cover, so
when you are scheduling the day, don’t make other appointments that might rush
the process. Of course you hope that
everything will be found to be flawless, and if only minor problems are
uncovered, the seller may simply volunteer to correct them. But if the home
inspection reveals that a significant amount of work will have to be done to
bring it up to an acceptable standard, you and your agent will probably be
submitting additional terms reflecting the requirements. As always, if you’re
looking for that agent—the one you will want by your side throughout the entire
home-buying process—I hope you’ll give me the call!
Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com
-Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook Real Estate
Charleston, SC
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