Top Five Deal Breakers – By the Barrie Home Inspector

Real Estate agents like to throw around the word “Deal Breaker”, and that is because they are only focusing on their possible loss of commission.  Every home has its issues and some are more serious than others.  At the end of the day it depends on the “comfort level” of the purchaser with the deficiencies.  Here are some of the most common reasons I have found why people will walk away from a purchase.

WET BASEMENTS – After over twenty years of inspecting home in the Barrie, Alliston and Orillia area the most common question ask is, “is there any water in the basement”.  Water in a basement can come from a number of​ sources including from the house itself.  Up to 75% of water issues that I encounter in basements are directly attributable to either poor landscaping or improper roof drainage.  Cracks in basement walls may let water in faster but usually that water would seep through the wall anyway, just at a slower rate.  Some older homes may not even have a weeping system and the sump could be a plastic pail in a dug hole in floor with a pump installed.  I love the sound of a sump pump squealing in a dry hole.  This typically means the pump has not been running and the moisture has corroded the bushing, just another indication of a dry basement.

MOULD – If a home has mould it may be very expensive to remediate, depending on severity and location.  Mould is a fungus that can grow in walls, under ceilings and floors or in any place where moisture, heat and protein exists.  Mould can cause a variety of health problems and some mould can develop mycotoxins which cause rashes, bleeding and other health issues.  Unless mould is localized to specific leak or other minor issue it is recommended you have a professional mould inspector who also does remediation provide a quote prior to completing sale.

BUILDING PERMITS – Many homes in Barrie, Alliston and Orillia have illegal in-law apartments or basements that were not finished with a building permit.  If there has been changes to the home and no permit was taken out, you as the new home owner will be liable to comply with any requirements of your local building department if they discover the modifications.  Your city or municipality will require you to take out a permit and bring home up to current code requirements.  This can be very costly especially if you get into buried plumbing, electrical behind walls and ceilings.  Not only is there the city building inspector but also an electrical inspector and possibly a plumbing inspector.  If you have added an apartment you may be contravening zoning by-laws and fire code requirements.

ASBESTOS – Asbestos in homes is typically found in vermiculite insulation and as part of heating system.  There can also be asbestos in older homes in paint, drywall, plaster and flooring.  Many homes built prior to the late 1960’s have old heating ducts which are still wrapped in asbestos.  Even when a new heating system is installed it a rare case where the installer removed all the asbestos.  I have inspected homes where the old boiler was encased in asbestos and just covered with plastic sheet and left in place as home owner did not want to incur the cost of removing it.   Vermiculite insulation, particularly insulation from Libby Montana mine, can contain asbestos.  It is impossible to tell from looking at it and must be sent to a laboratory for examination.  Removing any significant amount of asbestos is a very expensive proposition as it is a Class 2 hazard and has to be dealt with in accordance with strict rules which apply to removal, containment and methods of disposal. Read Barrie Home Inspections articles on Asbestos

ALUMINUM WIRING – This was used during the 1960’s and 70’s due to a spike in copper prices.  Aluminum and copper connection causes aluminum to corrode which then creates a loose connection with arcing and possible fire.  There are some methods of protecting your home such as pigtailing, treating aluminum wire with antioxidant at panel connections, using CO/ALR devices which are designed for use with both copper and aluminum.  Some insurance companies will not insure a home with any aluminum wire present and others will require an ESA inspection prior to insuring.

Aluminum Wiring has a unique ability of wire to actually get thinner at a connection when over heated.  This action is called, “Cold Creep”.  When an aluminum wire arcs and develops heat the aluminum metal actually moves away from heat source.  When aluminum cools it does not return to its normal state, as copper wire does.   This action creates a large gap in metals which leads to more heat generated by arcing and can eventually lead to a fire.

Read the Barrie Home Inspector articles on Aluminum wiring.

Always remember CAVEAT EMPTOR – BUYER BEWARE

Animals & Rodents in Your Attic

Animals and Rodents in your attic can create a mess that can be expense to reslove.  They can damage your wiring, ducts, insulation and leave behind their toxic feces.  Here are some common types and tips for removing them from your home.

BATS – The last thing any home buyer wants is to find unwanted pests living in their home. Houses, unfortunately, can provide the ideal home for animals and rodents to take up residence. Your Home Inspector will look for the signs and indications of these pests and provide you the basic information you need to start the removal process. This article will discuss some of the more prevalent pests you may find. Bats are a naturally scary animal to most humans. They are often related to vampire stories and getting into a person’s hair. Both these are fictional but there are some hazards associated with bats that some people are not aware of. Bats, although being beneficial by eating insects, can be a health hazard due to spreading rabies and respiratory diseases to humans and pets. Bats are attracted to areas with long grass and standing water. These are the types of locations that insects will breed in and bats live off insects. If your home has gaps in attic louvers or the roofline, combined with a attractive insect population, the odds are bats will occupy your home if allowed in. Adding screens and sealing openings can effective prevent the entry of bats. If you notice bats flying in or out of your home you should immediately contact a “bat professional” to investigate and remediate your home as soon as possible. Bat guano droppings can be hazardous to breathe and should not be disturbed by home owners.

RACCOONS – These masked marauders can be the peskiest of animals to remove from your home. If you have a female raccoon in your house there is a good possibility that she may have babies. The best thing to do is wait until the babies are old enough to leave with their mother or else they will not survive. Closing all entries is usually best done using wire mesh or metal flashing. Raccoon feces can contain “roundworm eggs” and should be cleaned up by a professional. Trapping and relocating raccoons is one of the easiest ways of ensuring your neighborhood raccoon won’t return.

Mice – Most homes have mice living in their attics. Mice enjoy nesting in attics that have fiberglass insulation installed. Using blown cellulose insulation is an alternative solution as mice tend not to enter attics where it is installed. Mice can access your house through vents, gaps in soffit, open holes or pipe penetrations. After you have sealed up all the entrance points you can then start removing mice by trapping them. You have to set your traps where the mice run and in some attics you might require more than 10 or 12 traps. Check your attic after a period of time to ensure that the mice have not returned, you will have to re-seal exterior of house if more mice have entered your home.

Squirrels – Removing squirrels from your home is very similar to removing mice. You first have to seal up and protect any openings that the squirrel has used to enter the home. Steel is the best material to use as squirrels will chew wood or other materials. The main concern with squirrels in your attic is that they will chew electrical cables, exhaust ducts and any other material in your attic. This is a real concern as chewed electrical wires create a fire hazard.

Clean Up – Any animal living in your attic will leave waste products behind. There will be nesting debris, droppings, urine and body hair that will have to be cleaned up. In most cases it is better to hire a professional to clean up and remove debris and waster from your attic. They will remove large items by hand, vacuum small droppings etc and chemically treat problem areas of insulation. This will be expense and highlights the importance of sealing your home so that the critters do not return.

When buying a new home call the Barrie Home Inspector to prevent unwanted surprises or financial set backs.  As always  CAVEAT EMPTOR – BUYER BEWARE

Helpful Articles for Home Owners:

Air Conditioner Basics

Soffit Baffles Protect Your Attic

Bremont Homes – Tarion Warranty 

Municipal Building Inspections

WETT Inspections and Your Chimney

Alliston WETT Inspector

Barrie WETT Inspector

Prepare For Winter Tips for Home Owners

Mould in Your Home

Electrical Issues in Your Home

Fire Prevention in Your Home

Top Five Deal Breakers – Real Estate

Medical Marijuana Building Inspections

Inspecting Older Homes In Orillia

Alliston Home Inspections