You may have had a home inspection when you bought your current house years ago. As time passes, it is easy to forget that the original inspection may have pointed out areas that would eventually require maintenance or repair. However, if you are wanting to sell your home, you may be concerned that your home wouldn’t pass inspections and thus, you wouldn’t be able to sell. With so much at stake, it’s ideal that you take time to assess your property now to ensure everything is up to code so you can be prepared to handle any developing issues. That way, when you contact a realtor, you can feel more confident with being able to get your home sold for the amount of money that you want.

Roof

A well-built roof often lasts ten to fifteen years or longer depending on the type of roofing you have and how well maintained you’ve kept it. If your roof is getting older, check it out for signs of wear and tear. Missing shingles, damaged gutters or downspouts, or a crumbling chimney should be addressed pronto before the problem gets worse or more expensive. Damaged roofs also tend to be a symptom of other issues such as mold or water damage so if you do have roof damage, work with a professional to get it assessed. That way you aren’t putting a bandaid on something that could be a huge issue for your home.

Electric

If the previous home inspection highlighted electrical issues, such as older or frayed wiring or insufficient power for your appliances, hopefully, you took care of the problem back then. But it may be time to have your home’s electric panel checked to see if any 110 lines should be upgraded to 220. You may also be ready to add more electric power for additional appliances or equipment currently in use. This tends to be an issue with older homes since the wiring and electricity needed for appliances years ago didn’t require as much power as the appliances that are common today. A common symptom that this is a problem is that you aren’t able to run multiple appliances off of one outlet. For example, you aren’t able to run the blender and the coffee maker at the same time. These appliances tend to have lower power requirements than appliances such as an oven, so if these small appliances don’t work at the same time, then you probably need new wiring. This type of update can be a pain to update since you will likely need to remove part of the wall to expose the wiring. However, a recent update in electrical wiring can give potential homeowners peace of mind that that electricity is taken care of and they don’t have to worry about it. This is especially important when they are comparing your home to a newer home.

Plumbing

Plumbing in more recent years is primarily made of PVC pipe, which doesn’t corrode, rust, and is highly durable. However, if you have an older home, the plumbing may have been made from a different material that is more likely to corrode. The old-time water lines in an aging home might have sprung leaks or are beginning to corrode, leaking toxic materials into the water. You don’t want rust in your drinking water or drips in your plumbing fixtures. Inspect your basement water appliances and sources as well as the quality of your home’s water. Unfortunately, leaky corroded plumbing is only the beginning of the problem if you find that is the case. Many older homes with these issues also have underlying mold, which can be incredibly dangerous and would be a huge problem when an inspector reviews your home. Look for signs of leaks or mold and contact a professional mold remediation company if you find any mold. They can take the appropriate safeguards to ensure their own safety and they can provide recommendations for you regarding staying on the property while they take care of the problem. Black mold, for example, is toxic and can cause sickness so they may recommend that you find a different place to stay until it is resolved to prevent you from getting sick. Oftentimes, the mold is hidden behind the walls, so it might not be as easy as you were hoping to find, and thus, you may want to work with a pro to check for the mold as well.

Foundation

Walk around the outside of your house to examine the foundation. Look for chinks or crumbling mortar. A block foundation might also show signs of shifting or leaks if the soil around it curves down into the base of the foundation. Look at the inside of the basement wall for cracks or fissures as well as dampness. If you are not sure what to look for or whether your home would pass an inspection, consult a business like clarityinspectors.com for information.

HVAC

Have your heating, cooling, and ventilation system checked by a licensed HVAC technician every year or two and replace any of the units that begin to wear out. If you take care of minor repairs as needed, the units may continue to work well for several years.

Every homeowner should give their house a thorough inspection to ensure that everything works properly and is holding up. Take an objective look as though you were a home inspector to spot problems and fix them early.