All of the following problems are likely to occur on some level, after you sign a closing contract on your home.
- Most home inspections occur at the time a home is bought or sold.
- Buyer inspections may assure that a home is suitable for sale or purchase, but these inspections don't prevent natural wear-and-tear on a home. Even after the closing contract is signed, the structural and mechanical systems of a home continue to deteriorate.
- The average family occupies a home for eleven years. This means eleven years of damage accrue on the home from normal usage, obsolescence of building materials, obsolescence of mechanical systems, inclement weather, and more.
- Gas or wood-burning systems produce CO gas (carbon monoxide) that, if not properly ventilated, can lead to potential health problems or poisoning.
- 40% of homes contain a high-level of Radon gas. Radon causes approximately 20,000 deaths per year in the United States according to the EPA.
- Toxic mold, such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, can lead to chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, heart problems, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple chemical sensitivity, bleeding lungs and much more.
- Improper insulation can lead to an increase of up to thirty-percent in annual energy costs.
- Improperly-grounded electrical systems can lead to fires. You typically will not know that your home's electrical system is damaged until systems begin to malfunction (short-circuit) or after a fire has already occurred.
- Water and heat can cause structural components in your home to contract and expand. This can cause adjoining components to pull each other apart, reducing the structural integrity of your home.
- A cracked chimney or other improperly-flashed vent on your roof can allow water to enter the walls of your home. This can lead to severe moisture damage, structural rotting, mold growth, infestation of insects, damage to electrical systems, and more.