Having your home or commercial building inspected can be done for a variety of reasons, but it's often scheduled before a sale or purchase of the property. Home and building inspections are typically much different than people realize; you may not know when they should be scheduled or why you would need certain inspections that have been recommended by a real estate agent or insurance carrier. Note a few commonly asked questions about home and building inspections so you know when to call for one and why.

1. Why have a home inspected before putting it on the market?

Since the buyer typically schedules a home or building inspection as part of making an offer on the property, you might wonder why you should do the same before you even put your home or other building on the market. Note that having your home or building inspected on your own can alert you to problems that you may need to get fixed before selling, as these may affect your overall selling price and even the sale itself.

For instance, if you don't realize that your wiring is not up to code, you may see an offer being taken off the table once the buyer finds this out with their inspection. This can mean the entire process of selling your home or building needs to start all over again. Having your own inspections done can mean knowing what repairs should be performed and if you need to adjust your asking price accordingly.

2. Why is a pest inspection done if a home has a concrete slab?

It's easy to think that a concrete slab means that a home is safe from a termite or other infestation, but this isn't the case. Termites and pests only need a slight opening or gap in the home to make their way inside and start chewing away on wood studs and beams. This is also true of a home with a steel frame; this doesn't mean that termites, mice, and other pests won't get into certain areas of the home through gaps around pipes and electrical wires and, in turn, begin causing damage. No matter the overall structure or foundation of your home, it's good to have a termite and pest infestation inspection done before a sale or even periodically, so you know your home or building can be fumigated as needed and is safe from damage.

For more information about building inspections for your home or business, contact a local inspection firm.