Buyers Guide: Pre-Purchase Home Inspections

In the recent weeks we have seen some balancing of the Windsor real estate market. Some Windsor homes have gone past the offer date with little or even no offers on the property. This has been evident in the mid-range market of homes. The intense bidding and offers have moved up the ladder to higher range homes. That means Windsor REALTORS® are urging their clients to get back into the market and start searching for houses for sale in Windsor while they may be in a position to finally find themselves a Windsor home. We’ve even seen some conditions start to sneak back into offers. One condition is a home inspection. Up until now buyers may have needed to bring an inspector to every viewing and the costs of them could add up. Some sellers have made their listing more inviting by doing a pre-inspection themselves and making it available to buyers. Regardless of which side did the inspection, it was and still is an incredibly important part of buying a home. This is the biggest purchase of your life and you need to make sure what you’re buying is valued correctly and not in need of major repairs or renovations. So what exactly does a pre-inspection cover? Let’s go over exactly what you’ll find out.

Building Envelope
- This is the exterior of the home and will cover things like crawl spaces, the roof, and door and window sealings
Foundation
- Not all foundations can be seen to be inspected but a good inspector will be able to look for signs of issues such as settling or cracks
Grading
- Your grading should slope away from the home, not towards it. The water needs to flow away from the home or else you are susceptible to flooding or water damage.
Roof
- Your inspector will be able to determine the health and condition of the roof and if/when it may need repair or replacement. A strong roof not only prevents water damage but also helps with energy efficiency and also keeps out pests.
Garage
- The inspector will make sure the structure is sound and the seal from the garage to the home is tight and secure to prevent fumes from entering the home. If the garage is an addition, it’s even more important to have it inspected.
Plumbing
- Your inspector will check all of the toilets, faucets, and showers in the home to look for any visible leaks while at the same time testing the water pressure too. They can also identify pipes that may be of concern.
Electrical
- The inspector will be able to ensure all the wiring in the home is up to code, be able to ensure that all ground faults are working properly, and identify if old electrical installs like knob and tube are present and need replacing.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation
- This part will not only address potential expensive repairs or replacements but it will also help you ball park your energy bills and how energy efficient the home is. They will also look at your insulation and determine if your heat/AC unit is in proper working condition.

Whether you bring your trusted inspector to a viewing prior to offering or the home was pre-inspected, it is crucial that you read the report on the home and make sure your investment is sound and secure.

Here at Jump Realty our agents will give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put taking care of your best interests first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, and Chatham, no matter where you are, a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!