It's time to start thinking of a home as a living, breathing being. A series of interconnected parts and systems that make it function. Breaking each of these components down will better help you appreciate what inspectors and appraisers will be looking at when they explore your current or future home.
1. The envelope - If a house was a human being, the envelope is sort of like a skin. It's everything that air, sun, and weather touch, including the roof, exterior walls, etc. You wouldn't want to live with a big gaping wound, and your home shouldn't either. All surfaces should be well dressed and watertight. No paint should be peeling; no wood should be rotting, no mortor missing, windows and sills should be in good shape.
2. The structure - A home with good posture is a good home. The professionals hired to inspect that home will look at the 'bones' of that home to make sure they are present, straight, and in good condition. This includes the foundation, chimneys, footings, support beams, etc.
3. Electrical - Think of the electrical system as a nervous system, a series of interconnected wires that make the home work. If those wires are dated, not connected properly, or incomplete, the home won't be reviewed as positively as one that is. Make sure all wires and outlets are to code. Note that unless otherwise specified, all installed fixtures (including that front chandelier you love dearly) will be considered a part of the home, inspected, and will stay with the house when it's sold unless otherwise specified.
4. Plumbing - If the electrical system is the nervous system, the plumbing is the cardiovascular system. All arteries (lines in) and veins (lines out) need to be in good condition, all pumps need to work, and we don't want any leaks or clots along the way. Faucets, drainage points, stoppers, and the like will also be reviewed.
5. Mechanical - That leaves all the bits and bobs that fill a home; sort of like the remaining vital organs. This includes but is not limited to: the HVAC, water heaters, and other appliances like the stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry, etc. If it's tied into the house, it counts.
So what doesn't count? It's unlikely the person reviewing your home is there to provide an opinion on cosmetic additions. They prefer function over form. Thus while it's important that your flooring doesn't provide a safety, pest, or weather hazard, they're not interested in which color stain you chose on your hardwood floors.
Similarly, the things we chose to dress our home with (e.g., furnishings, window dressings, electronics, etc.) are generally not a part of the home inspection, even if they are a part of the sale.
This is important to note as the inspector does not turn on the installed flat screen TV to check whether it works. Similarly, the appraiser will be reviewing the home's total value and the sum of its parts and doesn't care if you upped the sales price to include the furniture.
To better understand the nuances between an inspection and an appraisal. And to better understand which external influences could impact the latter, speak with a great agent. I'm happy to help!
Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor, Team Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.
Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing agent in New Orleans and the founder and leader of Cool Murphy, LLC.
Contact Her -
email: cool@coolmurphy.com
Facebook: @homeinneworleans
IG: @coolmurphynola
YouTube: @coolmurphynola
phone: 504-321-3194
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