The Benefits of a Home Inspection

Are you planning to buy a new home? Or maybe you’re selling your current one? Whatever your situation may be, a home inspection can provide you with valuable insights about the property. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of a home inspection and why it’s an essential step in the home buying or selling process.

Identifying Potential Issueshome inspectors hampton roads

The primary benefit of a home inspection is that it helps identify potential issues with the property. A professional home inspector will thoroughly examine the house, from the roof to the foundation and everything in between. They’ll look for signs of damage, wear and tear, and other issues that could affect the safety and livability of the home.

By identifying potential issues early on, you can address them before they become more significant problems. For example, if the inspector finds a leaky roof, you can have it repaired before it causes water damage to your home’s interior.

Negotiating Power

Another benefit of a home inspection is that it gives you negotiating power. For example, if the inspector finds significant issues with the property, you can use that information to negotiate a lower price with the seller. Alternatively, if the seller agrees to fix the problems, you can ensure the repairs are done correctly before moving in.

Peace of Mind

Finally, a home inspection provides peace of mind. Knowing that your new home is in good condition and free of significant issues can give you peace of mind and help you sleep better at night. You’ll be able to confidently move into your new home, knowing that you’ve made a sound investment.

In conclusion, a home inspection is an essential step in the home buying or selling process. It can help you identify potential issues, give you negotiating power, and provide peace of mind. So, if you’re buying or selling a home, schedule a home inspection with a Certified Master Inspector. Schedule Now. Clay Somers Announces New Master Inspector Certification In Virginia Beach, VA!

four different types of water shutoffs

Different types of water shutoff valves and locations.

Water Shutoff

Let’s say you’re in the middle of dinner…. suddenly you hear the sound of running water coming form upstairs… but everyone is at the dinner table…. what could it be? You run upstairs to investigate only to find water a water puddle in the hall, the carpet is wall and carpet is soaked. Did someone leave the bathtub on and its overflowing? No. Is the sink on? No. It seems that the water is coming from the wall! What do you do? Gotta shut that water off. Where’s the valve? It’s in the garage! Oh man, now you have to move the stacked up boxes of Christmas ornaments, after you get past the toys and bikes. It only took five minutes, that won’t be that bad right? Wrong, that could have put about 500 gallons of water in your home. Thats right, a 3/4 inch water pipe from your local municipality moves 110 gallons of water per minute. A 1/2 inch pipe is only about 50 gallons per minute, but after only 5 minutes, 250 gallons of water on you floor, in your home…. that’s a lot of water!

Water shut-off locations in or near your home are important to be aware of! In the event of an emergency, the last thing you want to do is be searching for it.

Each home can be a little bit different as to the location. Your home might have an easy to locate valve with a label or you might have to use the water meter valve.

Whatever the case, make sure you have this identified and accessible. A lot of times, I find them in the garage along the side wall or back wall. In older homes, they are often found under the kitchen sink or in a hall closet.

Sometimes they were installed in a crawlspace or not at all, and the best thing to do is shut off at the meter valve. In order to shut off at the meter, its best to use the Tee handle wrench. It can be difficult trying to reach in the meter housing with a channel lock plier or adjustable wrench, where damage is a risk! By using the proper tool, shutoff can be achieved easily and quickly!

For those in the garage or closet, make keep the area clear so you can get to it without having to remove a lot of items. This could be the difference between a little water on the floor and major flooding damage inside the home.

If you get your home inspection done with A Premier Home Inspection, look for the shutoff location labeled in your inspection report! Then take the necessary steps to be ready if the need ever arises. If you’re having trouble locating the shutoff, give me a call and I could drop by as courtesy when I’m in your area!