How to Solve the Biggest Home Inspection Nightmares

Certain home inspection issues can stop a home sale dead in its tracks. If you are thinking of selling your home, it's important that you identify and fix any major issues in your home before putting it on the market so you don't waste time and money after the fact. Your buyers may walk from the purchase of your home if big issues are discovered during the inspection. Take a look at how to solve the biggest three home inspection issues.

Foundation Problems

The foundation of your home is most important because it is what makes the property structurally sound. Your foundation has to be in good condition for the rest of the home to retain its good structure. Water damage, bad craftsmanship and even geological problems can cause foundation problems. It will take a professional to truly determine the severity of any foundation issues.

If your foundation is cracked significantly or has shifted outside of inspection boundaries, you will want to have a professional reset it before you place your home on the market. If the problem is too severe, you will have to consult a structural engineer.

Termites/Carpenter Ants

Before selling your home, you may want to have it inspected for pests. If your home has been infested with termites or carpenter ants, this can cause severe structural issues and cannot be ignored. The longer the problem exists, the worse it becomes. The same goes for rats and mice. While these pests are not a huge concern, the termites are not something to ignore — they can destroy the structural integrity of your home. Bring in a professional to put an end to your termite issues, before they take over your home's structure.

Bad Roof

Replacing a roof is expensive, but it is necessary if your roof is leaking or missing a significant amount of shingles. If your roof does not pass the home inspection, you'll need to ask a professional roofing company to take a look and determine what the issues are. They may even be able to address the issues without having to replace the entire roof.

This is one issue that you need to identify before placing your home on the market —one of the contentious items in the inspection is the subjectivity of how long the roof will last and when it will need to be replaced. Your home inspector may say that your roof is nearing the end of its rope but has a few years left of good use before it will need to be replaced. This is why you need to consult with a professional roofer to have a written statement of evidence about your roof's condition for buyers to see.

Provided by:

Jay Burnham and Linda Morey

Premier Associate Team

Coldwell Banker Residential and Commercial Brokerage

NorthShoreRealEstate.com