furnace and AC systems for age, condition, and proper functioning. • Laundry room: Ventilation and dryer systems, leaks and potential fire hazards. • Bathrooms: Bathtub, shower, sink, and toilet inspection. Proper ventilation and plumbing. • Kitchen appliances (if part of the purchase): Are they working properly and are they installed correctly?. • Fire safety: Are the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in place and operating properly? Are the fireplaces and stoves operational? • Pest inspection. Is there a presence of wood-boring and other insects, molds, or fungi? If you live in certain high-risk areas, it’s wise to order an additional service — for example, earthquake, tornado, or flood inspection. The specialist will help you estimate the resistance of the property during natural disasters. Your inspector may recommend you ask for a specialized opinion, such as a structural engineer in case weakness is suspected in load-bearing walls. Don’t procrastinate and wait to get this done. There have been situations in which the closing had to be postponed because of failure to properly deal with inspection issues. Choosing the right inspector is the key to a thorough and comprehensive report. You may search online, paying attention to reviews of that inspector. Many real estate websites have a list of professionals with ratings and reviews. Ask your friends and family for a recommendation. Having been in construction for over 41 years, I can give you several names.
Some buyers don’t attend the inspection, looking only at the
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