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| Guide to home inspections |
Whoever coined the phrase ""What you don't know can't hurt you,"" probably never bought a house. Buyers are more educated than ever, and want to know exactly what they are buying. A professional inspection is recommended even with a seller's disclosure--sellers can disclose only what they know about.
In a survey of Home Inspectors, the most frequently cited problems were related to the damaging effects of water--the number one culprit was poor surface grading around the house, along with inadequate roof-drainage systems. These conditions are responsible for the most common malady--water in the basement or crawl space. Downspouts which deposit water near the house instead of directing it away add to the problem. Buyers react strongly to water in the basement because they immediately think of excavation, drainage tile, and waterproofing. In many cases, however, inspectors can recommend inexpensive ways to divert water away from the home.
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