Inspecting a House

by Rex Cauldwell, Mike Guertin

This pro-level guide to inspecting a house is a tool for evaluating property inside and out. It includes a discussion of current building materials, heating, electrical and plumbing systems, foundations, and more. This book can help anyone determine the soundness of a house.

Genres: Business

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2000

Reviews

[LS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever seen a person thumping a melons in a grocery store and asked them what they were listening for? I have. Most of them say they do not know. There are also people who go to open houses to look at homes that they are going to spend decades paying for and real estate agents who examine homes they are going to sell. I have not seen any books on the melon topic, but this one has houses covered. Not only does Cauldwell explain what you are looking for and how to look for it, he also provides a brief background on how many faulty conditions came about. This latter feature is helpful when seeking quotes on the cost of repair that will be used to decide whether to ask the owner to fix the issue or to request a reduction in the selling price. The book includes photographs of how things should and should not look. For those short on time, there are summary checklists for the major area discussed in each chapter viz, roofs, foundations, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, etc.