Home Warranties and Inspections - Home Inspection - Century Home

Wanted to know if anyone has any experience with having a home inspection done on a century home? We’re considering the purchase of one, and wanted to know what the special considerations should be.

Ideally I’d like to find an inspector that specializes in century homes. But I have concerns about electrical, structural, well, and septic. Should I be bringing in structural/electrical engineers, and well/septic specialists in addition to the home inspector?

Just looking for some advice or firsthand experiences – thanks!

Go to Home Inspector - InterNACHI: home inspection/inspector (http://www.nachi.org/) and type in your ZIP to locate a certified home inspector in your area. You can call and make an appointment if, after a telephone interview indicates his experience in the area of century homes. You will want an inspector who is a member of the American Institute of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

A typical inspection includes:


Attic, Insulation & House Ventilation
Roofing Materials, Vents, Flashings & Trim,
Eaves, Soffits & Facias
Porches, Steps, Walkways, Railings, Decks & Balconies
Basement, Foundation and Crawlspace
Observing Grading and Drainage Systems
Water Penetration and Foundation Movement
Heating & Cooling Systems, Water Heating System
Interior Plumbing System, Faucets, Drains, Traps, and Main Water Shut-Off Valves
Electrical Service Line & Meter Box, Main Disconnect & Service Amperage, Electrical Panels, Breakers, Fuses, GFCI's and AFCI's
Garage Doors, Auto-Reverse Sensors and Openers
Gas Leak Detection
Moisture Intrusion Detection
And Much More
This home inspector's site is very informative. You can take a virtual tour of a home inspection and review the ASHI Standards of Practice. Century Home Inspections ASHI Certified Northeast Ohio Professional Residential Home Inspection Service (http://www.centuryhomeinspections.com/)

A word of caution that has appeared in these forums over the years is not to go with an inspector recommended by the realtor. Shop around and interview before a decision is made on an inspector.

Some tips on choosing a home inspector: How To Select A Home Inspector (http://www.homegauge.com/real-estate-pro/whattolookfor.html)

All great advice, thanks. I also should have mentioned that I'm located in Canada. But the advice still applies regardless.

There is an International Association of Home Inspectors to which the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors belong.

You have:

CAHPI – British Columbia (http://www.cahpi.bc.ca/)
CAHPI – Alberta (http://www.cahpi-alberta.com/)
CAHPI – Saskatchewan (http://www.cahpi-sk.ca/)
CAHPI – Manitoba (http://www.cahpi.mb.ca/)
CAHPI – Ontario (http://www.oahi.com/)
AIBQ – Quebec (http://www.aibq.qc.ca/)
CAHPI – Atlantic (http://www.cahpi-atl.com/)

Home Page for CAHPI is www.cahpi.ca - Home (http://www.cahpi.ca/index.php?lang=en)