Construction & Contractors Blog
If you are interested in getting into the business of flipping houses, it is important to take the time to know what you are getting into before you actually buy a home that you want to flip. There are many homes that look as if they only have cosmetic issues but upon further inspection reveal that there is far more work to be done than meets the eye. Use the guide that follows to learn a few ways that hiring a building inspector from a company like Otto Rosenau & Associates Inc to take a look at a home that you want to flip before you buy it can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
Inspect the Foundation of the Home
One thing that is not always noticeable to the naked eye is the structural integrity of the foundation of the home. If the foundation of a home is sinking, cracked, or crumbling, there is a lot that will need to be done to repair it. It can cost a lot of money and time to repair a home's foundation, and finding out ahead of time exactly what is wrong with it will allow you to get an estimate for the repairs before making an offer on the house so that you can determine if it is worth the investment or not.
Inspect the Plumbing in the Home
Just because the water turns on in the home and the toilets flush, that does not mean that a home has great piping in it. The inspector can check to see how old the piping is and look to see if there are any signs of issues that may need to be addressed. Having to update or replace all of the piping in a home can cost thousands of dollars depending on the size of the home.
Inspect the Electrical Components of the Home
Many potential buyers make the mistake of only checking that the lights turn on and off when checking the electrical system in a home that they may want to buy. The inspector will check to make sure that the breaker box is properly set up, that the wiring is not outdated, and that there are no potential electrical issues that could lead to a fire if they are not addressed when inspecting the home. If any of these issues are found, the electrical elements will need to be fixed or possibly replaced altogether.
Building inspectors do charge fees for their services, but the fees are well worth paying if their findings keep you from buying a home that is completely dilapidated. An inspection can typically be done over the course of a day so you will quickly know what issues the home has and if it is worth buying once the inspection is complete.
Share22 September 2016
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
