According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a typical home inspection.

We’ve identified the 10 most important and common issues that, if not dealt with, will cost you the most to repair. Dealing with these before the home inspection could help to make your sale go smoother! View more selling articles »

In most cases you can make a reasonable home inspection yourself if you know what you are looking for. An knowing what you are looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

1. Defective Plumbing

Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking, and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking, and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all the faucets in the highest bathroom and then flush the toilet. If you hear the sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes may be undersized. If the water appears dirty when first turned on at the faucet, this is a good indication that the pipes are rusting, which can result in severe water quality problems.

2. Damp or Wet Basement

An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral deposit a few inches off the floor, and will look to see if you feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A mildew odor is almost impossible to eliminate, and an inspector will certainly be conscious of it. It could cost you $200 to $1,000 to seal a crack in or around your basement foundation depending on the severity and location. Adding a sump pump and pit could run you around $1,000, and complete water-proofing could amount to $5,000 to $15,000. You will have to weigh these figures into the calculation of the price you want to net for your home.

3. Inadequate Electrical

Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service, and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper or aluminum. Home inspectors will look at old style plugs as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.

4. Poor Heating & Cooling Systems

Insufficient insulation and an inadequate or poorly functioning heating system are the most common causes of poor heating. While a clean furnace, without rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will be asking and checking to see if your furnace is over it’s typical life span of 15-25 years. For a forced air gas system, a heat exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged – they can not be repaired.

5. Roofing Problems

Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the shingles, or mechanical damage from wind storms. When gutters leak and down spouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, this exterior problem can become a major interior one.

6. Damp Attic Spaces

Aside from basement dampness, problems with ventilation, insulation, and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold, and mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to pre-mature wear of the roof, structure, and building materials. The cost fix this damage could easily cost over $3,000.

7. Rotting Wood

This can occur in many places: doors, window frames, trim, siding, decks, and fences. During the home inspection the building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present – especially when they see freshly painted wood.

8. Masonry Work

Re-bricking can be costly, but left unattended these repairs can cause problems with water and moisture penetrating into the home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged by fallen bricks or even a chimney falling on the roof! It can be costly to rebuild a chimney or have it re-pointed.

9. Over Fused Electrical Circuit

A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on a circuit than was intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in a typical home, with larger service for larger appliances such as stoves and dryers. In can cost from $1,000 to $2,000 to replace your fuse panel with a modern circuit panel.

10. Structural & Foundation Problems

An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing and foundation of your home as structural integrity is fundamental to your home.