Inspecting a resale apartment after vacating

One of the most important things to do before moving into a resale apartment, once the current residents have vacated it, is a home inspection (bedek bayit). Companies that carry this out to find construction defects employ engineers and other professionals from construction, plumbing, real-estate appraisal and related fields, who examine the structure for defects an untrained eye, without the right knowledge or equipment such as a thermal camera, would miss.

Below, we look at why you should have this done before you move in, so read it carefully before you book a moving company.

Detecting construction defects in piping

Piping is one of the most important things a home inspection company checks. Repairs to piping often mean vacating the apartment to do them: lifting tiles, sometimes breaking through walls, none of which leaves the home livable, let alone comfortable, in the meantime.

Having a company that specializes in resale-apartment inspections diagnose these problems before you move in, and before you even book the movers, spares you the unpleasant surprise of unpacking into an apartment you then have to vacate again for repairs.

Detecting construction defects in electrical systems

Checking the electrical system is another core service a home inspection provides. It matters for more than convenience: a serious electrical defect can put lives at risk. These defects often trace back to dampness that has gotten into the conduits carrying the wiring, misuse, or a faulty water heater.

Catching them with an inspection before you move in means you can get them fixed first, and it is worth remembering that this kind of repair, too, can mean breaking through walls, one more reason to inspect before, not after, you move in.

In short, a home inspection, or building inspection, on a resale apartment can catch many construction defects, and fixing them usually takes real time. So do the inspection before you move in, and ideally before you even set a date to leave your current place. Only once you have found and fixed everything the inspection turns up should you leave your old home for the new one.