Home inspection (bedek bayit) is one of the keys to any successful real-estate deal. Buying property means committing very large sums of money, and as with any major expense, it pays to look closely at exactly what you are paying for and to whom.
As buyers, there are two main ways to confirm we are getting the quality a broker or contractor described: check out the contractor, and get a home inspection done by qualified professionals, meaning an engineer and a real-estate appraiser who specialize in it.
Reading the contractor before the inspection
A good home inspection exposes the truth beneath the surface, but getting a technical specification from the contractor first helps you understand who you are dealing with: how professional, reliable, experienced and accessible they are.
Keep that specification and hand it to the home inspection engineer when the building inspection takes place; it will help you gauge exactly how thorough the inspection needs to be. A contractor who is well known in the industry, involves you in the process, answers your questions and is open to changes is likely to have done good work and pass with flying colors.
A contractor who is obscure and hard to reach is far more likely to have produced problem work that calls for a stricter inspection.
The most common defects an inspection catches
Choose a qualified engineer who specializes in home inspections, and the inspection can diagnose a wide range of problems. Some of the most common:
- Dampness: from wet sand under the flooring, mold hiding in various spots, damp walls, or points where rainwater gets into exterior walls.
- Cracks: not just the ones visible on walls, but also cracks hidden in the building's beams and deeper structural elements.
- Flooring flaws: the engineer checks for uneven flooring, sinking, shifting, poor grouting, bulging, and broken or cracked tiles.
- Wall cladding: the engineer goes over every tile on the interior and exterior walls looking for loose or missing pieces.
- Plumbing: this is where a qualified engineer matters most, since only a professional can spot problems beyond clogs and bad smells. The inspection covers the entire plumbing system, including improvised connections and weak or interrupted water flow.
Beyond this list of construction defects, a home inspection or building inspection also covers acoustics, aluminum-work defects, electrical problems, paint and plaster defects, radiation and radon gas tests, rust, crooked walls, and any gap between the contractor's technical specification and reality on the ground.
When it comes to a home inspection, do not look for shortcuts, discounts, or trust your gut. It should be carried out only by objective professionals who can put the inspection to full use and catch every defect that exists.
The engineers of Arad Bedek Bayit, led by building engineer Ron Arad, whom courts appoint as their own expert on construction defects. The company has been inspecting apartments and buildings since 2001. Engineer Ron Arad · More about the company