Four Reasons Why an Attic Inspection is Necessary Before Buying a House
Buying a house can be one of the most exciting things in life. With so much to do during a home purchase, it can be easy to forget or push things back like an attic inspection. Before making a down payment, hire a house inspector to avoid unnecessary litigation, regret, and repair later on down the road. A home inspector that is well versed in attic services can inform you about the current conditions of the attic as well as things to look out for in the future that aren’t problems yet.
Here are the top 4 reasons why you need an attic inspection before buying a house:
Poor Ventilation
It’s essential for the comfort and wellbeing of those living in a house for the attic to have proper ventilation. This is because attics greatly contribute to the overall airflow and air quality throughout the home. Without proper airflow, the attic and other rooms near the top of the house will feel extra warm while the basement, crawl space, or lower level rooms will feel much colder.
In a poorly ventilated attic, the extra heat and lack of air movement can indirectly cause structural issues, adding to your costs over time. In addition to this, extra heat that’s trapped inside your house forces your air conditioning system to work harder. As a result, your energy bill will be higher than it should.
Proper attic ventilation not only adds comfort to your everyday life in your home, but it also helps to retain your home’s value and the investment that you’ve made into it.
Pest & Rodent Infestations
Unwanted pests and rodents are always looking for shelter, especially in the colder months. Attics are common targets for pests because they can often live there without being disturbed, can use insulation or your personal belongings to nest, and more. This is all especially true if your attic has excessive moisture as it provides water in the attic in addition to shelter. Not only are these pests a nuisance, but they can damage your personal belongings and affect the indoor air quality within your home. Excrement particles can easily flow into the rest of your home without being detected and can be detrimental to the health of those living in the home.
Condition of the Insulation
It is crucial to have properly installed and dry insulation in the attic because it helps to create a barrier between the outside elements and the home environment. The better the attic insulation, the longer it takes heat to escape from your warm home to the cold outside.
Common conditions indicating a need for new insulation:
- Mold is a common issue found in attics. If the home doesn’t have an adequate vapor barrier and there are leaks, mold and mildew can create a health hazard. Blocked vents can impede proper airflow, which is another common cause of mold and mildew. If the vents are blocked, moisture can build up.
- Rodents like to chew on fiberglass insulation and move it around to make nests. This means that if you see shredded insulation or insulation where it shouldn’t be, it’s likely due to pests.
- Over time, insulation may have settled or drifted, making the attic prone less effective. This is especially true of blown fiberglass and cellulose, which can drift or settle over time. This leaves attic insulation prone to air movement which contributes to higher energy bills and an uncomfortable home.
- Ice dams on a roof are a sign that the attic insulation needs attention. Ice dams form when snow melts, then refreezes near the edge. This is a sign that part of the roof is warm enough to melt, but the edge stays below freezing. This can damage the roof which will be even more expensive to repair.
Our insulation installation services pay for themselves over time by saving our customers on average 17% on their heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
Leaks
The last and most obvious reason to have an attic inspection prior to purchasing a home is to identify any leaks, holes, cracks, etc. Leaks and cracks are easy to identify, but are often neglected because the attic is out of sight and out of mind. Cracks and holes in an attic create the perfect entryway for moisture to come in, as well as unwanted pests and rodents. A neglected leak can lead to mold and mildew growth as well. It’s important to seal off any cracks, holes, and sources of leaks because over time it can cost you money, lead to structural damage and costly repairs, lower your home’s indoor air quality, and lower your home’s overall value.
Comprehensive Evaluations by Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement
When purchasing a home here at the Jersey Shore, it is imperative to ensure that the crawl space, basement, and/or attic are free of conditions that can lead to mold growth, negatively impact indoor air quality, lower energy savings, and that affect structural integrity.
While home inspectors can outline the obvious issues within the crawl space, basement and attic, our highly trained technicians will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of any and all conditions that can impact energy savings, foster mold growth, and impact health and home value.
Our evaluation process includes a 22-point inspection that includes reporting on:
- Floor and pipe insulation.
- Mold and moisture conditions, complete with moisture readings.
- Drainage and grading.
- Pest, rodent, and termite activity.
- Air leaks, foundation cracks, and more.
Following the evaluation, we work with you from contract to closing, providing documentation needed when negotiating credits or repairs from current homeowners. These service recommendations are built around providing you and your family with better indoor air quality, energy savings and increased home value, from the day you receive the keys and decades to come.
Each of our installations are backed with extensive warranties and are transferable. We monitor each installation in our scheduled visits performed during each season, to monitor moisture conditions, seasonal issues, drainage and grading and more.
Schedule your evaluation today! Click the button below to speak to a representative or complete the form at the bottom of this page and one will be in touch with you.