Sizing up Your New Home
To view and search all Edmonton and area MLS listed homes visit me at: http://www.findmyhouse.ca/
You’ve been in your new home now for all four of the seasons; you may have learned about a leak in the basement during the winter or a sticky window during the spring, but what other issues might you have missed? New homes are often plagued with structural defects and flaws in construction – both minor and major – that slowly come to light during the first year of occupancy. A professional inspection of your new home while it is still under warranty can help you find and address many of these issues at a minimal cost to you. It is prudent to have an inspection done after eleven months to ensure you have enough time to bring any flaws or defects to your builder’s attention before your warranty expires.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of issues that a new home warranty inspection will address:
* Has the builder correctly installed attic framing components and proper insulation?
If an attic has not been built with proper ventilation, there is potential for moisture buildup and rot. Proper air flow in your attic reduces humidity and heat, which are elements that can compromise the energy efficiency of your home and the life expectancy of your roof.
* Is the water heater installed per the manufacturer’s warranty requirements?
Are there missing furnace vent caps? This could potentially allow water to enter the heat exchanger and cause premature rust and failure.
* Are doors sagging and windows no longer easy to open or to lock?
An out-of-square window can also be an indication of a greater structural problem.
* Are any of the roof tiles broken or cracked?
It’s typical to discover problems in the flashing details, where the chimney meets the roof, or where the roof changes directions.
* Has water penetrated into the basement through foundation walls?
If the ground of the backyard is graded so that it slopes toward the house, it is very likely that water is collecting and may find its way into your home.
* Are there any areas of the floor that are “soft”? Are any of the floor joists cut improperly?
These could be indications of damaged or defective framing and may compromise the structural integrity of the floor.
