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.There might be more detailed information than you think you need.Please read it anyway.Knowledge is the greatest risk-fighting weaponyou have at your side in real estate.Please note: Some of the advice in the pages that follow may not applyto the properties you are inspecting.An office building will not havelaundry facilities or a kitchen, for example.Please read the sections thatprovide the information you need.Or read it all because one day you mayneed to know it and knowledge is power in the business of real estate.Here s what you need to know to inspect buildingslike a professional.0utside the House/Building" Grading and drainage.Examine the land around a building you areinspecting.If the property is largely flat, are there certain low areaswithout adequate drainage where rainwater is likely to pool whichcould seep into your foundation or destroy the grass or landscaping?If the lot slopes, is there a clear path for water to follow around yourbuilding in the event of heavy rain?" Attempts to direct water away from the building.Have there beenrecent excavations around the foundation, possibly covered by newgravel? These are signs of a probable leaky basement.Chapter 3: How to Know Even More about Properties than the 37Inspectors You Hire" The condition of the land.If the building is set on a lawn, doesgrass feel firm underfoot? A  squishy lawn indicates poor drainageor a water problem.Look at adjoining properties with the sameconsiderations in mind since a water problem next door is probablya water problem for your property, too.Also: Look at the curb infront of the property.If drainage hoses emerge from holes in it, theywere installed to dispose of water coming from somewhere aroundthe building.In all likelihood,they were installed to correct aleaky foundation.REMEMBER!" Foundation.Looking fromMissing or damaged bricks oroutside the house, does thecinderblocks in a foundationhouse appear to be solid, square,might look like small pota-toes, but they could indicateand free of cracks? Missingwider structural problems inor out-of-place cinder blocksa building.or bricks could be indicatorsof wider structural problemsthat disqualify the property from further consideration.Why buy abuilding with such obvious flaws?" Exterior lighting.Is it in good condition? Was it installed to beautifythe property? Or was it installed for security purposes like lightinga dangerous alley adjoining the building? While it is not a sureindicator, security lighting can be a tip-off that the building is in ahigh-crime neighborhood." Sidewalks, driveway and masonry.Are they in good condition, orcracked and in need of replacing? Are they in such poor conditionthat passersby or tenants might fall, leading to lawsuits against youlater on? Are there low areas where water will pool in cold weatherand freeze into treacherous pools? Remember: Masonry work isChapter 3: How to Know Even More about Properties than the 38Inspectors You HireWhat You Need to Know aboutHeating SystemsIn general, heating systems can be understood as two separate sys-tems that work together: the heat-generating component and theheat-distributing component.Let s take a closer look:The Heat-Generating Component creates heat from some source,most often natural gas, oil, or electricity.Oil and gas are burned;electricity is used to heat an electrical coil that creates heat.Gas and oil heating systems must be connected to chimneys or ventsthat allow fumes and/or smoke to escape from the building.Electricalsystems do not require venting because nothing is burned.The Heat-Distributing Component is the system that takes the heatfrom wherever it is generated and transfers it to living areas through-out the house.In general, heat can be transferred in four ways:1.By blowing hot air from a central furnace through pipes orducts that run through the floors, walls, etc.These ducts dodouble duty in buildings with central air conditioning by alsodistributing cooled air through the building.2.By creating steam in a boiler that is part of the furnace, thensending that steam through pipes to radiators located in livingareas.3.By pumping hot water through pipes to baseboard heatersor other devices that transfer heat from the water to thesurrounding air.4.By radiant heating, in which electrical coils or pipes runbeneath floors and transfer heating through the floors intorooms.Radiant heating is a recent offering and will be foundonly in newer homes.Chapter 3: How to Know Even More about Properties than the 39Inspectors You HireWhat You Need to Know about Heating Systems (continued)How to Spot ProblemsCheck hot air distribution systems for signs that they may needcleaning.They may be breeding mold.To check the distributionsystems, remove one of the grates that covers a heating duct in aroom.Perform a visual inspection, looking for dust.Reach in with arag, wipe the inside wall of a duct, pull out the rag, and inspect it fordirt and signs of mildew.If mold or mildew are present, considerasking sellers to have the ducts professionally cleaned as a precon-dition of sale [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]