Driving Success with Consultants: Advising, Integrating and Moving Forward

Before buying a home, you will have the building inspected for many potential problems and to ensure it's structurally sound; many inspections are actually required by your lender so they know that the home is worth the money they are lending to you. There are also some inspections that you may want to consider above and beyond these requirements, so you know of any potential problems you might face down the road and if you may need certain types of insurance. Note the following.

1. Mold

Not every home inspection checks for mold, but you may want to have this inspection done anyway. Mold can be very expensive to clean up and very hazardous to your health if ignored. Virtually every area can have mold risks, but it may be more prevalent in the tropics or anywhere with high levels of humidity, as the moisture may cling to building materials, and especially in homes with no or a very poor-quality moisture barrier. If the home has been flooded in the past, improper cleanup may have allowed mold to grow. Whatever the special risk factor, an inspection can tell you if mold is starting to grow on building materials and if it will need to be removed.

2. Lead paint

While lead-based paint has not been in use for several decades, this doesn't mean your home is free of the risk of having this paint applied. Homeowners may have painted over old lead-based paint or may have used old lead-based paint that they had purchased long before laws prohibiting its sale were in place. Lead-based paint can pose a health hazard if you were to accidentally ingest it or breathe in dust from having it sanded and removed, so it may be good to test for it if you have children, as they may tend to put things in their mouths. Also, if you plan on doing any renovating that will include removing the current paint, you may create dust with dangerous lead content, so have the paint inspected and tested.

3. Pests

It's not always easy to see if a home has a pest infestation problem, so you might have your potential home inspected for mice and rodents, termites, roaches, and the like. This can be especially important if the home is in an area where pests are abundant or if the home has special risk factors for pests. For example, certain bugs are often found more readily in tropical areas. If the home has a wood frame and exposed wood beams, this might make it more habitable for termites. In these cases, have a pest infestation check done.

For more information, contact a local building inspection company like Jeffrey Hills and Associates.