Inspection Tips That Will Help You Find Something To Fix In An Old House

Preparing an old house to survive the next season of harsh weather conditions can be quite a task if you don't know what you should be looking for. Little details that indicate the need for repairs can be easily missed if you don't carry out sufficient research to know when something needs fixing. Old houses are bound to contain many different things that require fixing; finding them can be challenging without the right plan.

Spot Potential Storm Hazards Outside

When the wind starts to pick up speed, you'll need to be able to count on the structural integrity of your fence. Giving it a nudge in many different places can help you find any weak spots that can be a potential hazard during stormy weather conditions. Trees that hang very close to your rooftop are among the riskiest things to have near your house during a storm, so cutting it down can prevent a disaster from happening.

Search For Water Damage

Since the early signs of water damage are very subtle, they're usually straightforward to miss. Checking out patchy spots on the wall, the smell of mold or discolored floorboards will all lead you to some form of water damage happening around the house. Most people mistake not inspecting the outside of their home for water damage, even though the windows and door frames are a ubiquitous spot to find them. Taking a look at your roof, if it's safe to inspect it alone, can also help you discover a potential water damage threat before it gets too severe.

Test Out Everything Around The House

When you're inspecting an old house, you're bound to find something that needs fixing if you flick every light switch and test out every bathroom. This could help you discover a wide array of different problems that require fixing without breaking a sweat; make sure that you're watching out for things like flickering lights, slow drainage, odd sounds, and leaky pipes.

Carry Around A Checklist

Home inspections require you to check so many different things around the house that it's difficult to remember all of them. Carrying around a detailed home docket list designed by experts can help you smoothen out that process a lot easier, as you'll perform a much more thorough inspection. Many people mistake trying to perform an inspection without a list in hand, and they often end up forgetting to check many different things around the house that need fixing. Staying on the safe side and carrying a list around can help you find and remember multiple items that require repairs.

Test For Harmful Gases & Asbestos

The construction materials used to build old houses differ significantly from newer homes around the country. Some of the materials used are deemed too harmful to use in construction over time. Testing an old house for asbestos or any harmful gas emissions can prevent you from developing many deadly diseases like lung cancer. Testing these things can be difficult without the right tools, as some grasses can be colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Take A Look At The Electrical Panel & Wirings

Old houses tend to develop a lot of frayed wires over time, and they usually go unnoticed. Going around the house and testing out all the different power outlets to see which ones require repair can help you spot any issues. Checking out your electrical panel is also very important, as clear signs of scorching can prove that something in there needs to be fixed. Wearing insulated clothing and the necessary safety equipment is always mandatory when inspecting the electricity around the house. Make sure you write down your observations and then get an experienced electrician to come around to fix whatever needs fixing, as it's too dangerous to mess around with the electrical panel if you don't know what you should be doing.

Do Your Research Before You Inspect

More informed and experienced eyes can spot things in need of repairs a lot easier than inexperienced ones. Doing a fair amount of research regarding the different signs you should watch out for when you're inspecting an old house can help you find a lot of useful information. Inspecting the home without this valuable knowledge will lead to you missing many different issues that can still be in their early stages.

It's challenging to tell how old a house is if it's maintained well, as you can take off all the aging signs that have occurred over the past ten years through timely repairs. Attempting to fix some issues without professionals' help can lead to injuries or further damages to the property, so whenever you feel like you can't DIY a specific problem, don't hesitate to bring in the pros.