14 Common Things That Fail A Home Inspection

Common Inspection Issues Your Home Inspector Will Flag

While you think you have found your perfect home, it might not be as perfect as it seems. There can be hidden things wrong with the property that will be costly.

A home inspection can prevent you from buying a money pit, and a home inspection contingency could allow you to back out of the purchase with your earnest money returned.

We look at the most common things that could cause your perfect home to fail a home inspection.

Foundation Problems

If a home has serious foundation issues, they could affect the entire property’s structure. Cracks or movement in the foundation could lead to very severe consequences for the homeowner. Serious problems with the foundation could eventually lead to the home collapsing.

While many things can be satisfactorily repaired, problems with the foundation will always be a concern. If the home inspection uncovers serious issues, the buyer may prefer to walk away rather than accept a repair or discount.

Roof Issues and Leaks

A leaky roof can lead to significant damage throughout the home. Replacing the roof is expensive, but could be necessary if you want to avoid water damage inside your home. Your home inspection could reveal a list of problems, including:

• Signs of water damage. There might be stains on the ceiling or mold growing on the wall that aren’t obvious. While it can be easy to miss these issues your home inspection should find them.
• Failing gutters. If the guttering around the home overflows, water can enter. The inspection will look for problems, and highlight things even if they are only minor, like a blocked gutter.
• Broken flashing. The flashing around chimneys and skylights prevents water from entering the home. The inspection will check the flashing around chimneys and skylights.
• Damaged or missing shingles. If the shingles on the roof are damaged they won’t prevent the rainwater from entering. Shingles can be cracked, missing, or otherwise damaged so that they do not work as intended.
• If there isn’t enough ventilation in the attic, mold and rot can fester. The inspector will check that the ventilation is sufficient to protect the home.

If the home inspection finds severe problems with the roof it will need to be replaced. As a new homeowner, you do not need the cost of a roof replacement. Perhaps this can be negotiated with the seller, or you might find it better to back out of the contract before you make an expensive mistake.

Poor Drainage

It isn’t just the roof that’s important to prevent water from entering your property. If there isn’t sufficient drainage, or the ground slopes towards the home, water can pool and cause problems for the homeowner.

If water pools near your home’s foundation, it might not only cause mud and a ruined lawn, but it can also damage the foundation itself. The siding can rot and the structure can be compromised by the pooling water. If this is bad enough, it can lead to future flooding or serious structural problems.

A landscaping contractor can address these issues by regrading or increasing drainage to remove the risk of flooding. The remedy could be very costly for the homeowner, however, so if the property has these issues you will want to have it factored into the purchase price.

Water Damage

Of course, it isn’t only the drainage that can cause water damage to a home. The home inspector will look for any signs of water damage. Previous leaks can often indicate future problems affecting the home’s structure.

The causes should be fixed by the seller, or discounts offered before closing takes place.

Plumbing Problems

There are many issues with the plumbing of a home that might make the home inspection fail. Leaking pipes, blocked drains, and low water pressure are all issues that can fail a home inspection.

In older homes, tired and worn-out plumbing can be another common problem uncovered by the inspection. Old cast iron pipes rust and leak, wasting water and causing sometimes unseen damage to the home.

In plumbing systems installed before 1995, plastic piping was often used instead of copper to reduce costs. However, the type of plastic used was found to be unsuitable for long-term use leading to failures and leaks.

The inspector will also check the water heater. Sediment can build up within the heater and it can also rust. The cost of replacing a water heater isn’t something you’ll want to deal with soon after purchasing the property.

Even small leaks within the home can lead to much larger problems. It can cause the home’s structure to rot, and mold to grow. Smaller issues shouldn’t stop the purchase, but larger plumbing issues should be the responsibility of the seller.

Mold

Mold loves damp and humid areas, and can be present in any part of the home. Its spores can be released into the air, causing health issues for the home’s residents.

The spread of mold can also damage carpets and soft furnishings. It can degrade the insulation within the walls of the home, leading to costly repairs.

Mold in the home is usually something a seller has to disclose during the selling process. The home inspection will also report on any visible signs of mold or condensation that could lead to this problem. If the home inspection reports a mold issue, the seller can be required to have this dealt with by a professional before closing.

Rotten Wood

If the home has too much moisture, the wood will begin to rot. If left too long, fungus can grow, damaging the wood and possibly the home’s structural integrity.

Your home inspection will look for indications of rot. Damp areas might show discoloration or cracking, indicating there could be a problem with rotten wood.

While these types of issues can be relatively superficial, things could be much worse. Even if they are relatively minor problems, if not remedied, they could affect the property’s structure.

When the home inspection finds issues like this, it can suggest that the home has more substantial problems that might lead to an inspection failure.

Fixing these problems requires finding the cause. With the source of the problem removed, rotten wood can be repaired. If this problem has been allowed to fester for a long time, new framing may need to be added alongside the existing rotten frame. Dealing with this extensive repair work will be expensive and time-consuming, making you wish you’d never purchased the property.

Unwelcome Guests – Termites

The home inspection will report any signs of pest infestations within the property. Termites, cockroaches, and rodents can cause substantial damage within the home.

Termites are a particular problem and can lead to expensive repairs. They can damage the framing and structure as they tunnel through the wood.

The inspector will look for any indication of current pest problems. If signs are found, a specialized inspection is usually recommended. If a pest infestation is confirmed, the seller should be responsible for treatment and repair.

It might not be possible or practical for the seller to deal with repairs before closing, and repair credits can be offered instead. This will allow the purchase to continue without delaying the process, but leave the buyer with the money necessary for repairs.

When you buy a house, you don’t want previous residents to remain living there. Pest infestations should be treated before closing day so you don’t have to worry about unwelcome guests in your new home.

Lead Paint

While lead paint was banned in the late 70s, it can still be a concern if you’re buying an older home today. Lead paint is the largest cause of lead poisoning in children and can cause brain damage, convulsions, comas, and even death.

There are four main options for dealing with it:

• Applying a paint sealant to prevent flaking.
• Covering affected areas with new drywall or siding.
• Removing all of the paint and repainting.
• Removing and replacing any affected surfaces.

If you find that a home you want to buy has a lead paint problem, you may decide it’s better to walk away.

Asbestos

Asbestos was previously used in construction because it offers good fire protection and insulation. It was cheap and strong and would be used inside and outside the home.

When buying an older property constructed before the 1980s, there could be asbestos in the home. It was used as insulation for boilers, piping, and roofs. It could be used in floor and ceiling tiles, sprayed on ceilings, textured paint, and even in things like window putty.

Asbestos contains thin fibers that can be released into the air when the construction material is damaged. These inhaled fibers can cause cancer in many different parts of the body. However, it is rare for someone to become sick from it in their home. Generally, repeated or heavy exposure to it is required to cause related diseases.

If the home is older, the inspector will look for asbestos use. However, it is difficult to identify it simply by looking at it. A specialist asbestos inspection might be required to test samples to be sure.

A home seller isn’t required to remove asbestos, and it isn’t dangerous unless disturbed. But if you’re buying a home, you don’t want that lingering worry.

Radon

Another potential unseen issue is radon gas. Radon is produced by decaying uranium and can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation and floors. This radioactive gas is naturally occurring and odorless. Radon gas is produced by decaying uranium found in all rocks and soil. Radon can also be found in water.

Low levels of radon exist in most homes, but some areas are more prone to higher levels. Where there is more of a problem with radon gas, building codes might require protective measures for new builds.

Radon levels can fluctuate considerably between neighboring homes and from hour to hour in the same property. For this reason, long-term testing gives a more accurate picture of exposure, but short-term tests can also provide a reasonable assessment when buying a home. 

Repeated exposure to high levels of radon gas can cause lung cancer. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and can increase the risk for smokers.

If the home is found to have higher than advised radon levels, there are many different mitigation options. These include sealing the walls and floor and improving ventilation in the building and underfloor.

If the home has a basement, this can be a problematic area for radon gas. In areas with high radon levels, not using the basement as a living space might be advised. A radon sump system might also help, and in some cases, ventilation fans can be recommended to reduce the problem further.

HVAC

If the home’s heating, ventilation, or air conditioning systems are failing, the homeowner can be faced with a large bill. The home inspection will look at and test HVAC systems to ensure they function as expected.

The inspector will look for signs that the AC unit hasn’t been maintained well. The air filters might be dirty, there could be leaks, and ductwork could be blocked. The inspector will also assess the age of the system, and if it is near the end of its lifespan that could be a concern.

Problems with the HVAC system might not cause a deal to fall through, but the buyer could request some repairs if the problems seem significant.

Home Safety including Electrical Issues

Safety is a particular concern with FHA and VA loans, and this could prevent any home purchase from succeeding. Within a home, there are plenty of potential hazards which could put the occupants at risk.

Faulty electrical wiring or damaged junction boxes could cause a fire, and the home should also have working smoke and carbon monoxide testers. Staircases should not be a hazard and have sound handrails. Safety also includes ensuring locks on windows and doors work as intended.

Minor safety issues and electrical problems like these are relatively easy for the seller to fix and shouldn’t slow the purchase.

Local Building Codes

The home inspection will check that the property does not breach building codes. A code violation could be a major issue in the home inspection.

Minor problems with the building code can be fixed relatively cheaply. Sometimes the code will change after the home is constructed, allowing an exemption.

If the inspection discovers serious non-compliance it could get very costly, and the buyer might prefer to walk away.

What Happens When a Home Fails the Inspection?

Just because there are problems with the home inspection, it doesn’t necessarily mean the purchase is over. Not every problem should lead to renegotiation, and home buyers shouldn’t expect perfection even in relatively new properties.

If the inspection report shows significant problems with the home, this can be used in negotiations. The seller may lower the listing price, make repairs, or provide closing credits. Of course, the seller could also refuse to do any of these, but the buyer does have the option of walking away and using the home inspection contingency to reclaim their earnest money.

Specialists and contractors can provide more information and give quotes. This information can help in negotiations so the buyer feels they are being treated fairly.

Make sure to discuss any inspection findings with your real estate agent. Their expertise and insights can be invaluable in navigating the negotiation process and making informed decisions.

Summing Up Common Issues That Fail a Home Inspection

A home inspection before you commit to buying is an important stage that shouldn’t be missed. Even in brand-new homes, the inspection report will probably find some issues. However, many highlighted problems needn’t be too concerning for the buyer or the seller.

How inspection issues are dealt with can depend on whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market. But even in a seller’s market, a serious failed inspection needs to be satisfactorily remedied if the purchase is to continue.

About the author: This article was written by Luke Skar of MadisonMortgageGuys.com. As the Social Media Strategist, his role is to provide original content for all of their social media profiles as well as generate new leads from his website.

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