Category: Residential and Commercial Property Inspection

Several months ago, we discussed how to prepare for a property inspection. Now, we’re diving into the value of a property inspection service. Property inspections are useful in a variety of situations. The one people most commonly think of is during a home or property sale prior to closing. Another instance is for routine rental maintenance and upkeep. There are other instances as well, which we will discuss in this post. An inspection not only gives you peace of mind that you are purchasing a safe property but is also important for future planning as well. While not all property issues require immediate fixes, some are more important to prioritize than others. We compiled this guide to property inspections that should clear up any questions on the value of these inspections, the items that will be inspected, in addition to the most common issues found.

Property inspections are most often associated with identifying any outstanding needs prior to a property sale. But did you know there are other hidden benefits to property inspections?

1. Identify Property Maintenance Issues Early

Time, weather, wear and tear, and numerous other factors can degrade your property. These factors can impact the roof, foundation, plumbing, electric systems, and many other elements of your property. Property inspections can identify these issues quickly so you can take steps to remedy them before they worsen, costing you much more.

2. Preserve or Improve Property Value

Issues such as pests, leaks, structural damage, or electrical system problems contribute to a loss of both money and property value. Routine inspections, even outside of the initial inspection prior to purchase, can ensure that you are aware of these issues and can address them quickly before they escalate. Inspections help maintain aesthetics and functionality of a property, and in turn, may lead to more potential renters or buyers in the future as well.

3. Sales Negotiations

A property inspection report arms you with valuable information to make decisions on your next steps. From this information, you might decide to proceed with the purchase, renegotiate the price to cover outstanding repairs, ask the seller to make the essential repairs, or even walk away if the issues are too substantial. A good property inspection serves as a tool to weigh the short-term costs and long-term effects on your property.

4. Alleviate Possible Risks

Property inspections review numerous safety elements such as carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms, among others. These inspections can indicate whether all safety precautions are up to date. Additionally, entry points will also be inspected to ensure all locks are functional too. To sum it up, a detailed property inspection goes a long way to ensure the safety of both the occupants and the property at large.

5. Long-Term Planning Assistance

Regular property inspections offer useful information that guides long-term planning efforts. Inspectors document the property’s condition during the inspection, offering you the opportunity to track issues, maintenance needs, and plan for future updates or repairs. This information helps with financial planning to address any costly repairs or upgrades necessary, saving you money over time. These inspections are particularly crucial for older properties.

6. Investment Protection

While the cost of property inspections varies, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind and financial security. An inspection offers valuable information on the property you’re looking at – particularly if there are repairs that are too extensive or costly, or if the property is in good condition. Overall, an inspection helps you protect your investment in your property.

7. Tenant Compliance

Property inspections are crucial for rental properties too. Routine inspections ensure tenant accountability and offer insight into how the property is being maintained. While we hope this isn’t ever an issue for you, there are instances where tenants break the terms of their rental agreement and cause damage to the property. These inspections may offer a chance for preventative maintenance for future issues too.

8. Tenant Satisfaction and Lower Vacancy Rates

Routine property inspections are also vital to tenant happiness. Inspections can identify and allow you to handle issues quickly, preventing larger concerns that may cause tenant dissatisfaction. By committing to regular inspections, you not only show that you value a well-maintained environment, but you care about your tenant’s well-being too. This, in turn, creates a positive tenant-landlord relationship by building effective communication and trust. Additionally, tenant satisfaction leads to extended leases and eliminates some of the costs affiliated with finding new renters.  It may even lower your property’s vacancy rates too.

9. Legal and Safety Compliance

For instances when you’re renting out the property, inspections are vital to ensure that you are compliant with safety regulations. Not complying with safety regulations can not only harm your tenant’s wellbeing, but also your legal liability. These property inspections offer a chance to identify and correct issues before they become dangerous. Neglecting routine property inspections can lead to severe legal repercussions such as financial penalties and reputation damage. If there’s an accident or a tenant complaint due to negligent property management, a lack of a proper inspection report can lead to legal liability. Committing to routine property inspections is one of the best ways to protect yourself, your tenants, and your investment.

We discussed the numerous benefits of a property inspection… so what does property inspection even entail? Here are several details your property inspector will review:

• Septic tank and pipes
• Roof condition
• Electrical outlets
• Insulation
• Circuit breakers
• Basement/garage foundations
• Window and door alignment
• Fire and carbon monoxide detectors
• General condition of doors, windows, ceilings, floors, and walls

Each of these components contribute to a clearer understanding of the property’s condition. While we hope these aren’t the case for you, here are some of the most common issues found during a property inspection:

• Electrical issues
• Pest infestations
• Safety and security issues
• Plumbing and leaks
• Structural damage
• Other exterior maintenance issues

Are You Looking for a Property Inspection?

Property inspections are a vital part of property maintenance services. If you are searching for a qualified property inspector in the Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, or Greensboro areas, give Capital Exteriors and Renovations a call. We offer numerous services tailored to your property maintenance needs including certified home and commercial inspections, reroofing, carpentry and handyman services, drywall repairs, and many other services. Fill out our quick contact form for your free quote today or give us a call at 704.618.0526.

Mold, known as organic growth to many contractors, is a major concern for home and property owners alike. Organic growth contributes to many hazards and should be remedied quickly. If you aren’t convinced still, here are a few reasons to consider using a home inspection service to check for organic growth, as well as some information on when these services are most beneficial, and how the process works.

What is Organic Growth?

Organic growth/mold is a fungus that thrives in damp spaces. This fungus spreads by releasing spores that float around until they settle on a moist surface, further enabling their growth. Sometimes organic growth will be clearly visible such as spots on your ceiling or walls. Other times, it’s in a hidden location such as inside carpet, walls, cabinets, and other hidden spots.

The best way to limit organic growth is through ensuring your roof, HVAC, and plumbing are in good condition, cleaning up spills, and making sure damp rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom are venting moisture.

So why clean up organic growth? 1. It damages any surface it grows on. 2. It can provoke allergies or asthma.

When to Inspect for Organic Growth

While most people would like to avoid seeking out an organic growth inspection, there are several reasons to bite the bullet and hire a home inspection service.

Water Damage

Water damage is a common source that leads to organic growth in a space. In cases where a basement floods, a pipe burst, or a roof leak, an organic growth inspection should occur as soon as possible. This is particularly important for areas that don’t dry within 24 to 48 hours. These areas are a frequent source for organic growth to occur.

Roof Leak

Roofing issues are a source of potential water damage and can quickly result in organic growth. Ensuring that you quickly remedy any outstanding roofing problems can help limit the amount of organic growth that occurs due to a leaky roof.

Purchase of Home or Property

Purchasing a home or property means you have no way of telling what kind of water damage has occurred, if any. That possible water damage could mean organic growth and getting a certified home inspection can confirm if any growth is present.

Unoccupied Home/Property

When a house or property has gone unoccupied for months or years, humidity and moisture could have built up resulting in organic growth. This is particularly relevant for warm and humid regions.

Previous Organic Growth Remediation

Unfortunately, if you’ve already gone through an organic growth inspection, it is critical to have routine organic growth inspections to confirm that the growth is completely gone.

Visible Organic Growth

This one seems straightforward: seek out a home inspection service if you witness something green, blue, black or white stuff growing, you’ll need an organic growth inspection. Unfortunately, because organic growth spreads through spores, this growth may not be limited to just one area. An organic growth inspection can ensure that all areas are carefully examined to eliminate that growth.

Musty Smelling or Unusually Humid Spaces

Humid or musty smelling areas are a great source for organic growth to occur. In some cases, we can smell organic growth, and in those cases, a home inspection service to check for the presence of that growth is crucial. Besides, no one wants to breathe in mold!

Health Issues Related to Mold

There’s a whole slew of health issues that can occur due to organic growth, particularly black mold. These concerns can include:

• Skin irritation
• Mold allergies
• Asthma attacks
• Pulmonary hemorrhage
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Aspergillosis

Additionally, black mold produces mycotoxins that can lead to toxic mold syndrome in humans. The symptoms associated with toxic mold syndrome include but are not limited to:

• Sleep issues
• Confusion
• Vertigo
• Mood swings
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Concentration issues
• Metallic taste
• Numbness and tingling
• Irritability
• Memory loss

And the list goes on. Fortunately, doctors can treat this and cure it over time, but all black mold must be removed from the home or property.

What about prolonged exposure? Lengthy exposure to black mold can have long-term health consequences such as respiratory issues including allergies, and neurological problems. Fortunately, black mold is highly unlikely to kill you, but to avoid health issues, get that inspection.

Preventative Measures

There are several measures that can be taken to avoid organic growth in your home. Here are a few suggestions:

• Fix any water leaks as soon as possible. This includes burst pipes, roof leaks, flood damage, and any other water damage that may have occurred.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet areas within 24 to 48 hours.
• Replace any organic growth or water-damaged items in your home.
• Clean gutters routinely to prevent water from building up.
• Ensure all areas that have high levels of moisture are well ventilated. Use a dehumidifier in basements and run air conditioning in the summer to avoid moisture buildup on surfaces.

Organic growth is a serious issue. Spending the time and resources to remediate before it grows out of control can save you thousands of dollars. While organic growth inspections can cost several hundred dollars in some instances, it’s well worth the peace of mind and safety that these inspections offer.

Looking for a Home Inspection Service to Check for Organic Growth?

If your home has experienced water damage, your family continues to get sick, or something smells off, it is time to consider an organic growth inspection. Capital Exteriors and Renovations has experienced inspectors who look for potential safety hazards such as mold. Contact us today for your free quote or to book a home or property inspection.