HOME MAINTENANCE INSPECTION
When most people think about home inspections, they think that is something that people do before they purchase a home. While that is true, homebuyers are not the only people who should have a home inspection.
Many people maintain their vehicles better than they maintain their homes. Our homes are literally our refuge from the storm, and for the most part, they do a great job protecting us. On the other hand, they suffer a lot of abuse from the sun, rain, snow, wind, trees, insects and rodents, and from the people who live in them. Very often, a small problem can become a large problem if it is not addressed quickly. If left uncorrected, a loose shingle on the roof can eventually turn into a serious case of water damage. A small electrical problem could turn into a fire. A small plumbing leak can turn into a large leak resulting in rot and/or foundation issues.
The most serious problem that we at Morgan Inspection Services found during a home maintenance inspection was a shower pan in an older home that was so rotted out that it could have collapsed at any moment. This was in the master bathroom of an elderly couple’s home - and it was used daily. Had it collapsed while someone was using the shower, serious injuries could have very likely occurred. The repair ended up costing them several thousand dollars, but fortunately, no one was injured because of this hidden damage. Although, we normally don’t find problems this serious during a home maintenance inspection, we have never conducted a home maintenance inspection in which we didn’t find at least several maintenance issues that needed to be addressed before they became bigger problems.
Your home is your largest investment. Are you maintaining it like you should? Besides the visible areas, do you regularly check the roof, the attic, and the crawlspace under the home? If so, then you are a diligent homeowner who may not need an inspection. However, if you have not been so diligent, then do yourself and your home a favor, and schedule an inspection soon.
Here are some photos of problems that we have found during inspections that could have easily been prevented with a timely home maintenance inspection.
