Home Inspection Areas That Could Potentially Delay Your Closing Process

If you’re looking to sell your home, the most nerve-racking part is probably going to be the home inspection. The home inspector is basically checking your home to make sure it’s safe for the next potential owner. They’ll inspect everything from your floors to your electrical system, and then provide you with a written report with the results of your inspection… The results are what makes you the most nervous.

If your home inspection comes out with less than perfect results, it’s okay and definitely no reason to go into panic mode… No home is perfect, and a flawless home inspection is non-existent. 

According to Realtor magazine, 25% of house sales experience delays during the closing process, but can you guess where 16% of those delays come from? If you guessed home inspections, then you guessed correct! Issues found during home inspections cause excessive delays during the closing process.

The good news is that you can get a home inspection at any time, even when you’re not looking to sell your house just yet. If you can get a home inspection to determine your home’s problem areas, that’ll give you time to get those issues corrected in enough time so that when you are ready to sell, you can at least have the major problems taken care of so there won’t be any delays during your closing process.

A home inspector’s checklist is very thorough, and there are specific areas that they target to check for major issues that can negatively impact the outcome of your sale. Getting a head start on these issues will help you in the future when selling your home. Take a look at those specific issues.

Major Home Inspection Areas That Can Delay Your Closing Process 

Water Damage

If your home has any cracks, water will always find a way to seep through those cracks, which can cause a world of damage to a home. Everything from a basement that floods every time it rains to plumbing issues, these are not only things the home inspector looks for but it’s also a red flag to potential home buyers when they see your home inspection report.

Water damage, when left untreated, can not only cause structural damage, but it can also lead to the infestation of mold. Mold creates a toxic environment that affects your health, but can especially cause serious health issues for people with upper respiratory issues.

By getting an early home inspection, you’ll be able to fix any cracks that are causing water damage, and you can then look up different mold removal companies if mold came about from the water damage your home suffered. Fixing this issue now will save you so much time later on when you are finally ready to sell your home.

Roof Damage

The roof of a home is what protects homeowners from the outside elements including weather and harsh temperatures. On average, a roof can last up to over 20 years, but if you know you’re going to want to sell your home at some point in the future, it would be wise of you to have your roof inspected once a year. Some signs that let you know your roof needs to be replaced or repaired include:

Algae growth
Loose or missing shingles
Curled shingles
Uneven areas on the roof

Infestations of Pests and Insects

As a home seller, pests and insect infestations, honestly, shouldn’t be an issue that a home inspector should find simply because it should be an issue that you can’t live your every day life dealing with, especially when there are safe pest control methods you can use.

According to pestworld.org, ants are the number one nuisance pest in the country, but other pests like rats, roaches, and termites also play their own role in wreaking havoc on and in a home. 

If you have a rat problem in your home, you have a much more severe issue on your hands. Did you know that rats can reproduce and birth as many as 12 babies every three weeks? On top of that, those disease-carrying rodents carry fleas and ticks as well as salmonella. Getting that issue taken care of is something you want to do long before even thinking about selling your home.

Electrical Systems

Improperly modified electrical panels, exposed wires, and missing knockout panels are a few of the top causes of house fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. That reason alone is why electrical systems are one of the top areas that home inspectors look at. If they see any type of potential issues, they’ll refer you to get services from a licensed electrician or electrical company.

This is an issue that you’d want to also get taken care of before selling your home for your own safety. A lot of electrical issues your home may face won’t be obvious but that’s why it’s so important to have your electrical system checked out as preventive measures, whether you’re looking to sell your home or not.