valentinosdcpulse

Last week, things were rather “shaky” in the Washington, DC area. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on Tuesday, August 23, was centered nine miles south of Mineral, Virginia, and was felt from the Carolinas to New England.

While earthquakes are not exactly an everyday occurrence in the Washington, DC area, the epicenter of the quake, near Mineral, VA is on a known fault, meaning earthquakes here are not unheard of.

The recent quake reminded me about the need for regular home inspections. Over the past couple of years, we have experienced Snowmageddon, as well as the recent earthquake and winds from Hurricane Irene – any of which might have done known or unknown damage to your home. An inspection report may help you detect any damage to your home that might have resulted from other natural occurrences or just plain aging.

Home inspections, which you should do every two to three years, should include examinations of:

• Structural Elements – this includes construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof, and foundation

• Exterior – an inspector should check the wall covering, grading, elevation, drainage, and doors and windows

• Roof and Attic – framing, ventilation, type of roof, flashing, and gutters should be examined

• Plumbing – identification of pipe materials used for potable water; and drain, waste, and vent pipes as well as toilets, showers, sinks, faucets, and traps should be checked

• Electrical – the report should include information on the main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, and light fixtures

• Systems and Components – water heaters, furnaces, duct work, and chimneys should all be checked

• Appliances – the report should evaluate the condition of things like the dishwasher, stove/oven, and smoke detectors

Home inspection reports, in Washington, DC and elsewhere, typically do not describe items that are in excellent shape but will identify problem areas. The serious problems you should resolve immediately are:

• Health and safety issues

• Roofs that have little life expectancy left

• Furnace or A/C problems

• Foundation issues

• Moisture and drainage problems

Home inspections are crucial to helping you properly maintain your Washington, DC area home. Having regular home inspections and subsequent repairs done may save you from the costly repairs and headaches caused by an earthquake or other natural disaster.

Rachel Valentino and her team at Keller Williams Realty are experts in buying and selling real estate in the Greater Washington, DC area. Contact Rachel today for all of your real estate needs.