Home Check provides examples of common defects found in Florida homes.

How to Deal with Common Defects

Ten Common Defects

Window Defects

Common Defects Information Page

Three Common Home Inspection Defects And How To Deal With Them
	DEFECT: CAUSE: EFFECT: TYPE: FIX: WHO PAYS?	Step Crack Usually the weight of the roof (not a damaged foundation) No effect on the home unless water can get inside the concrete block and cause water or mold damage. Cosmetic defect, unless water damage is seen. If water damage is present, the defect would become a warranted defect. For cosmetic repairs, clean and paint. For warranted repairs, call a general contractor for evaluation. Usually the buyer unless the crack is wide or water damage is seen.
	DEFECT: CAUSE: EFFECT: TYPE: FIX: WHO PAYS?	Water damaged exterior door frame Lack of maintenance (paint) and water splattering off outside concrete stoop. Water damaged door casing, door frame, and door. Cosmetic defect, unless the frame and casing is damaged to the point that insects or creepy crawlies can get in. For cosmetic repairs, clean and paint. For warranted repairs, remove and replace the damaged portion of frame and casing. Usually the buyer unless wood has to be replaced.
	DEFECT: CAUSE: EFFECT: TYPE: FIX: WHO Pays?	Double Lug (two electrical wires under one screw) Do-it-yourself homeowner or unlicensed contractor Potentially dangerous fire hazard Warranted defect - always Contract with a licensed electrician Usually the seller

If you are a Listing Agent, here is a list of ten common defects a home inspector will likely look for when he inspects your client's property.
By taking care of these defects prior to the inspection, you can save yourself and your client some real aggravation between contract and closing.

Dirty AC filters
Defective smoke detectors
Defective GFI outlets and circuit breakers
Inside and outside lights that do not work
Windows and doors that do not open, close, or lock properly
Decayed wood at the bottom of outside door frames
Cracks at shower wall tile joints
Improperly installed Temperature I Pressure Relief Valve drain pipes at water heaters
Pool and well pumps that are not properly bonded (grounded)
Missing electrical terminal protectors at pool and water heater timers

Home Check Inspectors generally look at between 800 and 1,000 items during a typical home inspection.
Why?
Because the buyer wants to know the condition of the property and if a defect is not disclosed by the inspector, the buyer expects Home Check to pay for the repair or replacement whether it is a warranted item or not.

Who gets to fix defective windows, the buyer or the seller?
If a bedroom window will not open, it is a fire safety hazard.
If a window will not lock, the home is not secure.
If plastic glazing bars are cracked, the glass could fail in high winds.
If a window pane is cracked, the glass could fail in a hurricane and allow devastating winds inside the home.
If a sash spring assembly is defective, the window sash (the moveable part of the window) could drop when opened and under some conditions, it could come out of the frame and fall into the room. Both are safety issues.
If a window does not fit tightly in the frame, the window may not be watertight. If awning or casement windows bind, the glass could break.

Windows

If you are a Listing Agent, here is a list of ten common defects a home inspector will likely look for when he inspects your client's property. By taking care of these defects prior to the inspection, you can save yourself and your client some real aggravation between contract and closing.

If you are a Listing Agent, here is a list of ten common defects a home inspector will likely look for when he inspects your client's property.
By taking care of these defects prior to the inspection, you can save yourself and your client some real aggravation between contract and closing.