One thing buyers tend to forget about during their home inspections is the attic. There are numerous reasons why a homebuyer should want the attic inspected before continuing on with the buying process. Even if you hire a professional home inspector, you need to make sure they check out the attic just as thoroughly as everything else on the property.
The attic tells the history of the house. It is the best place to find hidden clues to major issues that the seller just may not want to tell you about. Truth be told, they may not even know half the problems themselves. Here are just five reasons why the attic must be included in your home inspection:
5 Reasons to Inspect the Attic During a Home Inspection
1) Damaged Trusses and Rafters
A roof inspection is not sufficient when it comes to finding structural damage in an attic. Even if the roof looks safe and sound, there may be damaged trusses and rafters located in the attic. Inspecting the attic would ensure that you know about any stress cracks that could lead to even more damage in the future. This would also ensure that the correct lumber was used, according to housing codes.
2) Fire Damage
The best way to spot whether the home has been in a fire is to inspect the wood in the attic. The rafters should be a natural color, not dark or burnt looking. If the wood is very dark, even black, with scorch marks and soot, it’s been in a fire before. Another thing to look for is fresh, white paint, as this is used to cover up the burned wood smell in the attic.
3) Water Damage
It is very rare for water to enter a home from the side. It usually flows from the top, downward. A qualified home inspector will look for water damage stains on the ceilings and walls. This is almost always proof that the home has had leaks or currently has one in the roof. If condensation forms around the piping, this can cause rotting in the wood. This is another sure sign of water damage in the home.
4) Chimney
It’s not actually possible to inspect the inside of a chimney from the attic. But, you can visually check the chimney’s structure to ensure that it’s safe and strong. Be sure to check for cracks within the chimney’s bricks and the sturdiness of the mortar.
5) Rodent Damages
One of the easiest ways to detect whether a house has rodents in by noticing their fecal matter pellets. Squirrels, possums, raccoons, rats, mice and other rodents can get into attics through loose panels. They have a way of causing major damage to the home’s structure, including wiring and other electrical mechanisms.
Inspect the Attic During Your Home Inspection
There are so many things that can cause damage in your attic. This damage can lead to structural damage within the home itself. That’s why it’s very important to check the attic out thoroughly when doing a home inspection. Exposed wires can lead to fires. Bad insulation can lead to health problems. An unstable chimney can cause structural damage to the home. All of this can be avoided with a quality home inspection. Don’t buy a home until you know for a fact that it’s been properly inspected. This will save you much heartache later.
Guest blog provided by Vickie Nagy a San Ramon CA real estate agent. You can learn more about Vickie by visiting her Danville CA real estate website where you can also search all homes for sale Dublin CA.