Inspecting a House: A Guide for Buyers, Owners, and Renovators

A new home should be a financial investment, not a financial drain. Homeowners often realize too late that the property they've purchased is in need of costly repairs. Now you can protect yourself before you make a purchase by conducting a thorough home inspection. Seasoned real estate inspectors Alan Carson and Robert Dunlop will help you master the techniques of professional home inspection. This all-inclusive guide, filled with clear and detailed illustrations, will show you:

• What to inspect yourself and what to leave to the experts

• Which materials are the most durable when it comes to gutters, exterior walls, and roof

• How to check the fuse box or circuit breaker panel for trouble spots

• How to identify pipe materials used in plumbing systems and evaluate a septic system

• What you need to know about floors, doors, windows, walls, and much more

For those who want to perform their own renovations, this book features such useful resources as a breakdown of typical renovation costs and a sample construction contract to help do-it-yourselfers avoid common construction pitfalls. Inspecting a House is a valuable resource that will save you time, money, and the endless frustrations of unforeseen home repairs.