Most common defects found during home inspections
Here in Michigan, construction defects and safety violations are surprisingly common, but the majority of home inspection findings tend to be routine in nature. Some, in fact, rear their unsightly heads as often as the sun rises. Not just in older homes, but in brand new ones as well, even before the smell of new paint is gone. The following is a list of common defects seen by home inspectors everyday right here in Michigan.
Water Intrusion
Leaking roofs, basements and crawlspaces, improper grading of the site, damaged or improper roof flashings, damaged or missing gutters, and downspouts discharging too close to the homes foundation are just a few of the many problems we see every day.
DIY Workmanship
Coming in at a close 2nd are DIY issues or as I like to call them "uncle bob specials". All too often during home inspections we run across issues that were created by the homeowner making repairs or upgrades themselves in an attempt to save money. By far the most common DIY issue we run across are electrical problems. Uncle bob doesn't typically stop at the electrical panel, he has been caught doing plumbing, roofing and structural repairs also.
Heating and Air Conditioning
All too often these very important and essential systems are severely neglected by homeowners. Michigan weather wreaks havoc on your HVAC system. Proper maintenance should be more than just a suggestion when it comes to these systems, it should be an absolute requirement. Missing or damaged insulation on lines, missing HVAC putty, clogged or damaged cooling fins, abnormal flame pattern, corrosion, debris inside panel, dirty filters etc. are just a few of the issues we see daily.
Roofing Defects
Problems with roofing, either due to worn out or missing flashing, age, wear, hail storms or improper shingle installation are likely to be found in many homes here in Michigan. This does not necessarily mean that most roofs are in need of replacement, but rather that most are in need of some type of maintenance or repair.
Electrical Safety Hazards
Electrical safety hazards, especially (but not always) in older homes: Examples are ungrounded outlets, lack of ground fault interrupters (shock protection devices), faulty wiring conditions in electrical panels, etc. Such problems may be the result of errors at the time of construction, but most often in this day of the DIY handyman, they are due to wiring that was added or altered by persons other than qualified electricians.
Plumbing Issues
Plumbing issues can be an absolute nightmare for you as well as your inspector. Sometimes you can see them, sometimes you can't. Loose toilets, dripping faucets, slow or leaking drains, corroded supply and waste pipes, improper discharging of sump pump or condensate lines, improper slopes on supply and waste lines, improperly installed or missing drain traps seem to be the most common issues we encounter.
Obviously, these are just a few of the most common defects we encounter daily here in the Metro Detroit area. An unabridged list of likely home inspection findings would probably fill a few libraries. For home buyers, this underscores the importance of having a thorough home evaluation done by a professionally trained Home Inspector prior to closing escrow.
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