Property Inspection: What You Need to Know Before Buying or Selling
When you’re buying or selling a home, a property inspection, a detailed evaluation of a building’s condition by a licensed professional. Also known as a home inspection, it’s not just a formality—it’s your best shield against surprise repairs and hidden costs. This isn’t about checking if the lights work. It’s about uncovering problems that could cost you tens of thousands—or even make the house unsafe.
A foundation inspection, a critical part of any property inspection that assesses the structural integrity of a building’s base looks for cracks, settling, water damage, and uneven floors. These aren’t just cosmetic. A bad foundation can lead to warped doors, cracked walls, and in extreme cases, total structural failure. You’ll find posts here that break down what a foundation crack really means, when it’s normal, and when it’s a red flag. Then there’s the building codes, local regulations that dictate how structures must be built to ensure safety and durability. Inspectors don’t guess—they check against these rules. If a home was remodeled without permits, or if electrical work doesn’t meet current standards, that’s a major issue. These aren’t minor oversights. They’re legal and safety risks.
Property inspections also cover roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. A leaking roof might seem like a small fix, but if it’s been leaking for years, rot and mold could be eating away at the framing. Old wiring might not handle modern appliances, creating fire hazards. Even something as simple as improper drainage can lead to basement flooding or foundation erosion over time. The posts below cover exactly these kinds of problems: how to spot bad foundation cracks, why foundation repair affects your home’s value, what makes a repair expensive, and how seasonal changes impact structural health.
You won’t find fluff here. No generic advice like "get an inspection." You’ll find real examples—like why drilling into new build walls without knowing what’s inside can ruin your plumbing, or how insurance might deny a claim if structural damage was missed during inspection. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seller trying to avoid last-minute deal killers, or a homeowner wondering if your house is safe, this collection gives you the facts you need to act—before it’s too late.
