Other Inspections
There are a ton ways to evaluate real estate, and the list below is some of the more common ones. Most home buyers will only do one or two of these tests if any of them, it just depends on the situation. But it’s good to know about.
I always recommend that home buyers at least do a home inspection with a professional inspector. Beyond that, it depends what you determine to be necessary. Each property and person has different requirements based on the property, budget and time frame.
Evaluations and tests you might consider when buying Salt Lake City Real Estate:
Termite and pest inspection: Termites can destroy wood. (FHA loans require a termite inspection)
Radon gas inspection: Uranium in the ground breaks down and emits radon gas. The radon gas seeps through your foundation and into your home. It happens everywhere, but in some areas and homes the concentration is higher than others. (See LINKS for more information)
Mold: Some types of mold cause respiratory issues. (See LINKS for more information)
Asbestos: (See LINKS for more information)
Lead paint: (See LINKS for more information)
Stucco Inspection: If water gets behind stucco, it can rot the walls from the inside out.
Structural: If the home has cracks or settling you may want to hire a structural engineer to evaluate the problem.
Environmental: Phase I, II or III environmental studies are typically done on commercial properties, but if a property was down hill from an old gas station, for example, you might want to test it. This type of test is expensive and time consuming.
Soil Test / Engineering study: This test is frequently done when buying raw land with the intent to build on it. This is expensive and time consuming, but if the lot has issues, like weak layers in the soil, you’ll want to know.)
Soil Percolation (Perc) Test: This test determines if the soil is suitable for a sewage / septic system. A perc test, evaluates the layers of the soil and water absorption rate.
Survey: This is done with raw land, commercial property, and sometimes with single family homes if it’s a big lot or if there is a concern or if you want to. It’s expensive and time consuming and sometimes necessary.
Neighborhood: There are other less physical things to consider like school test scores and reputation, crime rates, neighborhood development plans and other local issues.
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