Top defects found during home inspections

A home inspection , which involves a comprehensive examination of the structure and components of the home (electrical system, plumbing, heating/cooling, etc), is a vital part of the home buying and selling process. It's fairly obvious that it can protect the buyer from purchasing faulty property, but perhaps its biggest value is in giving the buyer a better understanding of the property. No property is perfect, and it's good to have an idea of what to watch out for and help make plans about what you might do with the property in the future. A home inspection is also good for the seller because it establishes a baseline in case anything comes up after the closing.

In a recent article published by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, home inspector and instructor Denise Williams lists the following as the top 7 defects found during home inspections.

1) Poor drainage
This is the most common problem found by home inspectors. To improve drainage, you may have to install a new system of eaves, troughs and downspouts or have the lot regraded to better channel water away from the home.

2) Leaky roof
If the ceilings have water damage, older or damaged shingles or improper flashings may have caused it. It's inexpensive and relatively easy to repair shingles and small amounts of flashing, but if the roofing is old, you may face a much larger expense to replace the whole thing.

3) Unsafe heating system
An older heating system or one that has been poorly maintained can be a serious health and safety hazard. You may have to repair or replace the old furnace. This is a major expense, but new furnaces are more energy-efficient, which will probably save you money in the long run.

4) Poor maintenance
Examples of poor maintenance include cracked or peeling paint, crumbling masonry, broken fixtures or shoddy wiring or plumbing. You can easily repaint a wall, replace a fixture, or repair a brick wall, but makeshift electrical or plumbing situations are serious and potentially dangerous problems. Replace any such wires and pipes.

5) Minor structural damage
This means the house is not likely to fall down, but you should deal with the problem before it becomes more serious. Such damage is usually caused by water seepage into the foundation, floor joist, rafters or window and door headers. First you need to fix the source of the problem, then repair and replace the damaged area.

6) Plumbing problems
The most common plumbing defects include old and incompatible piping materials and faulty fixtures or waste lines. These may require simple repairs such as replacing a fixture, or more expensive measures such as replacing the plumbing system itself.

7) Exterior lets in water and air around windows and doors
This usually does not indicate a structural problem, but rather poor caulking and weather stripping that require relatively simple and inexpensive repairs around windows and doors.