Just like you would visit the doctor annually for routine checkups and not necessarily for ill health, your home needs an annual inspection. Even if you are a vigilant homeowner who performs repairs and seasonal maintenance from time to time, it is worth scheduling this inspection as you may miss out on some fine details. An annual home inspection enables you to maintain your home in good condition and prevents major safety issues or financial costs in the long run.
As a new homeowner, your house will need regular maintenance since, as time goes, some parts and systems will wear out, leak, deteriorate, or stop working. Thus, getting an annual home inspection in Dallas will ensure all your home systems are running smoothly. The cost of an annual home inspection is insignificant compared to what you may incur in the long run dealing with repairs, replacement, or losing warranty protection from not knowing a system was nonfunctional until beyond its coverage dates.
Why Do You Need an Annual Home Inspection?
It is normal for most home buyers to have their new home inspected before they move in. However, most homeowners tend to neglect home inspections yet they have issues arising annually that require attention. Here is why you need an annual home inspection.
You will need an annual home inspection to prevent minor issues from escalating to major ones. Through an annual home inspection, a professional home inspector will spot minor issues and recommend repairs. For instance, they will notice minor water leaks, insects destroying the wood, and leaking roofs, enabling you to undertake proactive repair and prevent high repair and replacement costs in the future.
An annual home inspection is also useful as you may not see all faults in your house. This is because you spend time on the areas you are actively using in your home and need an objective perspective into seeing faults in these areas. On the other hand, a house inspector will make their way to the roof and into the chimney to check for issues needing addressing. They will also check for life-threatening faults such as electrical systems and gas leakages and recommend ways of curbing these risks to protect you and your family.
Finally, besides preventing minor issues from becoming major and keeping you safe, an annual home inspection is useful to save your money. The Texas Real Estate Commission has set standards for every home. An inspector will check these standards against your home condition and make recommendations, saving your utility costs in the long run through an annual inspection.
What is Included in an Annual Home Inspection?
An annual home inspection is similar to a regular home inspection when purchasing a new house. However, the aim is not to help you in the negotiations and making a buying decision, but to inform you of your house condition and the necessary measures you should take to continue living safely.
An annual home inspection will comprise a top to bottom approach in search of defects that need repairs. A qualified home inspector will start by checking your home systems such as electrical elements, plumbing system, septic tank, and termite infestation, among others. Knowing the probability of finding these defects during the inspection will enable you to plan for the repairs to ensure you undertake them in good condition within the recommended period.
Here is a detailed list of what is included in an annual home inspection.
Electrical Elements
Generally, electrical wiring in a home can last up to 50 years with proper care. However, if you live in an older home, you should review this system every five years to ensure functionality and safety. An annual home inspection will serve to pinpoint any faults and recommend fixing them before they become major issues.
Plumbing System
The plumbing systems include filters, water heater, faucets, and showers. These units mostly experience leakages that range from minor to major. These leaks are damaging and costly as you end up paying for more water than you are using. If undetected, a small leakage can end up becoming a major catastrophe. They might even compromise your entire structure, which is why you should schedule an annual home inspection. Through this inspection, you will know which systems are aging and replace them before it is too late.
Termite Infestation
Termites are damaging pests as they eat away the support in your home, wreaking havoc and compromising your house integrity. Unfortunately, it may take years before you notice. The cost of dealing with them increases annually as they cause more damage. Thus, scheduling an annual house inspection will enable you to catch them early. A skilled and professional eye will catch these pests in their hideouts and find evidence of their existence. They will then guide you on the steps to rid them of your property.
Other things that a house inspector will check include the air conditioning and heating. They will also check appliances for breakages. These appliances include refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and water heaters. They will also check for evidence of water damage, such as mold growing on the roof and other areas.
Upon detection of problems, the inspector will point them out and recommend changes, including replacing AC filters, adding soil to areas around the foundation, and trimming trees to keep pest infestation at bay. They will also recommend professionals, such as plumbers, electricians, or HVAC specialists, to fix the issues. However, in this recommendation, they should not mention a specific company or person as this will cause questioning on their assessment and trustworthiness.
Thus, through an annual inspection, you will remain stress-free, knowing that the systems in your home are functioning well. You will also detect defects early before they are unmanageable hence saving on costs.
Why Should You Hire a Home Inspector for Your Home Inspection in Dallas?
Besides being a partner during your initial home purchase, your home inspector should partner with you through the years. This is because while you can spot a few faults in your home and fix them, you may miss out on some details. A home inspector has that eye for detail, and through their experience and formal education, they will know where and how to look for issues that may go unnoticed for many years.
Also, home inspectors have different experiences and customer service. Thus, when looking for one to partner with you in your annual home inspections, it is worth considering whether they are licensed, your expectations, the duration of the inspection, and what the report will capture. If unsure where to get a home inspector, you can ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors, or colleagues.
Your home inspector should be licensed to perform inspections in Dallas. Otherwise, you should look for another alternative. Such an inspector should have a license number on the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) website. You should also ask your inspector to provide a comprehensive list of what they will inspect, and you can compare what they give you to the standards on the TREC website. If your inspector offers minimum requirements, it will be safe to look for another alternative for a thorough inspection.
A home inspection should last around four hours maximum depending on the size of your home. In the current pandemic, you could also ask your inspector to state whether they will exercise precautions, including social distancing and sanitization, among others, to ensure your family remains safe during the inspection.
Finally, ask your home inspector what you should expect from the final report. For instance, they should give a clear and detailed report of the home condition, defects present, and repair recommendations. Knowing how soon you will get the report for an action plan is also vital, but this should be within 24 hours of the inspection. If in doubt, you can ask for sample reports from them before they conduct the actual inspection.
Wrap Up
Most people consider having their home inspected before moving to their new home as the first and final home inspection. While this is useful, an annual home inspection is also important since, over time, your house will depreciate structurally. Even if you are a diligent homeowner, you will not spot all the damages, which is why you should hire an expert for this job.
If you live in Dallas, you can contact us if you need a high-standard inspection highlighting details of the defects in your home.
