When it comes to getting a home inspection, the attic is one area that certainly should not be overlooked. In fact, the attic can tell you quite a bit about the overall health of the home you are considering purchasing. To that end, here are just a few of the reasons why you should have your attic inspected by a professional inspector.

Structure

The most obvious reason for conducting an attic inspection is to make certain the roof is structurally sound. Even if the roof appears to be solid and secure, broken trusses and rafters may be visible from inside the attic. Similarly, the inspector may be able to find stress cracks or other potential issues that can ultimately lead to a loss of structural integrity.

Insulation

The attic also provides you with a good view of the insulation that is used in the home. A variety of different methods may be used to insulate the attic, including laying fiberglass bats or blowing insulation into the attic. If fiberglass bats are used, the inspector will make certain they are facing in the proper direction. In addition, the inspector will determine of the insulating factor is high enough for the climate in which the house is located.

Chimney

Although an inspector cannot view the entire chimney from inside the attic, he or she can make certain the portion that is inside of the attic is in good shape. Although this portion of the chimney is not exposed to the outdoors, it can still deteriorate. As such, the inspector will look at the mortar to make sure it hasn’t started to crumble as well as the bricks to make sure they don’t have cracks in them.

Water and Fire Damage

The attic is an excellent place to look for signs of water or fire damage that Cialis Professional the home may have sustained. Obviously, rafters that are black and scorched will indicate that the house has sustained fire damage, but the inspector will also look to see if the rafters have been painted or if other steps have been taken to try to cover up the damage. The inspector will also look for staining on the wood that may have been caused by a leaky roof. Similarly, he or she will look for condensation around the pipes, which can cause the wood around the pipes to rot.

Pest Damage

If they can, raccoons, squirrels, rodents and other pests will be more than happy to make a home out of your attic. Obviously, pests can cause an extensive No prescription cialis amount of damage to your home. Not only do they pose a health risk with their feces and other waste, they can also chew through wiring and destroy insulation. Therefore, the inspector will look for feces and other signs of an infestation in the attic.

By having your home, including the attic, thoroughly inspected before you make a purchase, you can be sure to have any damage corrected before you purchase the home or you can negotiate a lower price. Either way, obtaining an inspection and addressing the problem before you make a purchase can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Author Bio: Jim Olenbush works in the Austin real estate industry. His team sells Southwest Austin homes, and they are very experienced with Steiner Ranch. Jim and his team would love to answer any questions you may have about the area.

Category: Finance/Real Estate
Keywords: property inspections, attic, reasons to inspect your attic