SPRING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Inspections and early repairs can save time and money over time. The most important part of your home to check would be the structure, especially if you have any plans to do any remodels or repairs. I have provided some tips below that are telling signs that you may need foundation repair. Remember, if you do any remodel work to your home with a sagging or leaning foundation, any repairs will be made to custom fit, meaning if your foundation is not level, your windows, doors, floors, etc., will also not be installed level. If you are looking to put your home up for sale in the future, this could be a problem for any home buyer and could potentially lead to the buyer backing out of an offer, or negotiating and ending with a low ball offer.
Signs of foundation damage to look out for:
*Sloping roof line, or floors that appear to be sloping or uneven. Sometimes, just putting a ball down will cause it to roll on its own if the incline is extreme. We have even had customers that say they feel like they are tipping over when they walk, or they feel like they are light headed.
*Doors ajar; they do not stay closed, or they stick and are hard to open if left closed for any period of time.
*Windows that stick and are hard to open, or hard to close.
*Cracks around the fireplace from the interior, or cracks on the outside of the home, especially anything that is not hairline in size. Cracks or any bulging or bubble appearance to interior walls, especially if painted and the cracks appeared afterwards.
Your foundation should appear straight and level, not bowed or sagging. Window and doorframes should appear square (especially bowed windows). Visibly, the foundation should appear in good condition – appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks. In the exterior, there should be adequate clearance between ground and wood siding materials (6″ minimum); no wood-to-earth contact. Siding should not have any cracking, curling, loose, rot or decay. Vinyl or aluminum siding should not have any visible dents, damage, bowing or loose siding.