They say you can do the inspection of the house yourself just fine. That is if you have the time, inclination, and the know-how. Having an appraisal guide may help, but will you be confident of your own efforts? Read on to find out what are the things you should look out for before you buy a house with your refinance home loan.



Not all inspectors are created equal

House inspectors are not all licensed. If you got the average guy who is in the scene to help sell houses, how can you be sure he knows what to look out for? He may not know a thing about plumbing but knows if a tap does not work, or he is not an engineer but says the foundation of the house can sit 20 giants without falling apart. Could you trust him?

Not on your life and your refinance home loan. Aside from the leaking room, busted plumbing, and faulty electrical wiring, there are other things you should look out for like the presence of asbestos, radon, and other contaminants.

Give the house a look-over before the makeover

The house inspector may be going around the house with his checklist. If he is not licensed, he'll not be smoking out asbestos, radon, lead, termites, and other wood eating bugs, molds, and pests. He'll just skim along the surface.

If you insist doing the inspection, be prepared that it won't take just an hour to go over each nook and cranny. Dress for the event in overalls and bring a mask just to be sure you're not inhaling those invisible and deadly fumes. In case of asbestos, take care to dispose of the articles of clothing. You don't want Mesothelioma after 25 years.

First, check the walls, floors, ceilings, roof and foundation. For the walls and ceilings look for dry rot and water damage. In the garage, if there are cracks on the flooring that means there's a drainage problem. Cracks in other parts of the house indicate soil setting, expansion, and earthquake.

Inspect the windows, are these wide enough to wiggle through in case of fire? Are the roof and gutters in good condition? To find out, go to that house on a stormy day. It'll squeal. Also, see how the house is at night. Are all the electrical components in top condition?

Light up the furnace. Is it working? Perhaps it's belching carbon monoxide. How about the drainage system? Check the fiberglass insulation behind the walls. If it is gray, remove a sample for laboratory testing. Treat it as dangerous. Asbestos is odorless and colorless, so use protective clothing, gloves, and a mask. Never mind the arched eyebrows. But call an asbestos abatement company to do the job instead. It's your life and your refinance home loan.

Check the basement. Check the basement for air pressure. If it is lower than the other areas, have the radon levels checked. Like asbestos, radon is colorless and odorless and just as lethal to the lungs.

Buy a house not for the price alone with your refinance home loan

A refinance home loan should be a good lifetime investment if you want a house that will be home to you and your family for ages. So have that house checked before you sign the papers. Your safety comes first.