The Essential Guide to Your Bowling Green KY

Home Inspection

Getting a home inspection can never be overrated when you are buying a new home. You will find this written on your purchase contract and your trusted real estate agent will strongly advise you to get one even if you are buying a newly constructed home.

Before you even start looking for Bowling Green KY homes for sale and do research on the best home-inspection company in the area, you must know the essentials of home inspection so that when you get the home inspector’s report, you won’t stare blankly on the pages and just agree to whatever the recommendations are. You may even save some money by doing the repairs yourself. Take note of these important areas of the house that should be inspected:

Living Spaces / Interiors:· Bathroom: A toilet should be sturdy because if it is

wobbly, it might break the wax ring at its base and

cause serious water damage. Water escaping every

flush will rot the subfloor and if not fixed, you might

find yourself stumped and dazed on the bathroom floor

one day. For older homes, check that the bathroom

circuit should have at least 15-amp so that you can

plug-in hair dryers or gadgets without causing

overheating or tripped circuits. Poor bathroom

ventilation may cause mildew and peeling wallpaper.

Check that the exhaust duct leads outside. Moreover,

the CFM rating on the fan should at least equal the

square footage of the bathroom.

Living Spaces / Interiors:

· Correct the exit of dryer vents. They should exit the building envelope and not the attic, basement or garage.· Check the stairs. The railing should be very sturdy and steps are not creaky.

Living Spaces / Interiors:

· Structural problems may show in cracks above doors and windows. Stains on ceilings and walls may indicate a leaking pipe or shower pan. Persistent stains and bad odors might mean there are critters living in the attic.

The Attic:· You seriously have to check the roof truss because any tampering done by the previous owner may have compromised its strength.· Check the condition of insulation and the covers of recessed lighting fixtures that may start up a fire.· Leaky Roof: It is best to check this during a strong rain. Look for leaks around vents and skylights, chimneys and plumbing stacks. Check water stains on the underside of the sheathing.

The Basement· Termite Tubes: Break these tubes and if termites spill out or the tubes are rebuilt after a few days, it is time to ask help from an exterminator.· Cracks along the foundation: Keep track of growing cracks and if they get bigger, call an expert.· Intertwined Wiring: This might indicate that poor wiring may be all around the house. Better check the rest of the wiring and have it fixed.

Exterior

· Check Shingles: Shingles may have worn out because of molds, fungus or roof-damaging algae. You may control this by putting zinc strips along the ridge.· Gaps around doors and windows may mean shifting of the foundation.

Exterior

· Thick bushes and plants around the house provide bridges for squirrels or other critters to the attic.· When doing inspection on a Bowling Green KY home for sale check the exterior paint. Paint that flaked off exposes wood to weather damage.

This checklist covers the essential elements of a successful home inspection . This brings you more prepared for the next step—finding a trusted contractor to do the needed repairs.

Are you still on the lookout for a new home? Know more about Bowling Green KY homes for sale when you call me, Greg Raymer at 270-784-7653.