1. Water, moisture, mold, and, mildew in attic spaces can indicate potential problems with areas
such as ventilation, insulation, and vapour barriers. This can lead to the premature wear of the
roof covering, structure and building materials as well as increasing the potential for ice damming.
$2,500 - Remove existing shingles and re-shingle a 3 bedroom bungalow
$2,200 - Replace sheathing on half a 3 bedroom bungalow
$500 - Add R20 loose fill insulation to 1,000 sq. ft.
2. Electrical panels are often not marked, or marked poorly, as to what type of service is present,
that is, the amperage size of the main service. Even if it is marked it may not properly reflect the
size of the service. This may confuse purchasers more importantly leave the purchaser with an
electrical service that does not meet your needs.
$1,200 - Upgrade panel and service to 100 amp
$2,000 - Upgrade panel and service to 200 amp
$300 - Install ground
3. Rotting wood is something which can occur in many places. For example, window
sashes/frames, door frames/sills, siding, decks, fences, and, trim. It's often difficult to detect this
without making an examination and sometimes probing the wood to see this is present especially
when the wood has been freshly/recently painted.
$400 - Replace a double hung wood window
$800 - Replace a 4 ft. by 40 ft. area of wood siding
$875 - Replace a 10 ft. by 5 ft. area of pressure treated decking
$250 - Replace 10 ft. section of cedar fencing
4. Masonary work and re-pointing of bricks can add up. Not only can it cause problems with
water/moisture penetration into the home but could lead to chimneys toppling over onto roofs,
clogging chimney's with fallen bricks, and, some limited support problems for other building
materials.
$500 - Rebuild 5 feet of chimney
$250 - Re-point a 5 ft. by 10 ft. area of brick
$350 - Parge 3 ft. by 40 ft. side of home
5. Foundation/basement areas can be a real concern for purchasers. There could be
water/moisture problems or cracked walls. Left unattended the costs can mount.
$300 to $500 - Seal vertical crack in poured foundation
$600 to $900 - Seal cracks (exterior) to block foundation
$1,000 - Add a sump pump and pit
$8,000 to $15,000 - Water proof the foundation/basement walls of 3 bedroom
bungalow
6. Heating and cooling systems can make comfort levels just the way you like them. Some
furnaces can still be working but be at the end of their economic life. For example, a forced air
gas furnace has a typical life span of 15 to 25 years. They can last longer, however. One of the
largest single components in a forced air gas system is a heat exchanger that can crack and emit
deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers can not be repaired and must be
replaced.
$2,500 - Mid efficiency gas
$3,500 - High efficiency gas
$500 - Electric air cleaner
$2,000 - Central air conditioning (on forced air gas)
$3,500 - Heat pump (air source)
$800 to $1,200 - Replace heat exchanger in forced air gas furnace
7. Over fusing or unsafely fusing an electrical circuit can cause fires. This occurs when more
amperage is drawn on the circuit that the wire was intended to carry. Protection comes from
properly fusing the circuit. Typically, 15 amp circuits are the most common with larger service for
a dryer, baseboard heaters, stoves, etc.
$600 - replace fuse panel with circuit breakers and panel
$150 - Add a 110 volt circuit and outlet
$75 - Add GFCI receptacle
$400 - Add CO/ALR outlets for aluminum wiring
8. Safety is key in any home. Security systems are a good idea but there are several other areas
that can increase a home's safety too. For example, proper locks on windows and patio doors,
smoke detectors in every bedroom and level of the home, carbon monoxide detectors, and, dead
bolts, to mention but a few.
$200 - Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
$150 - Install two dead bolts
$150 - Install 3 to 5 battery operated smoke detectors
9. The structural integrity of a home is fundamental to a good home. Sometimes problems can
arise over time that will require attention. If left unattended further problems may arise.
$300 - Add footing and install post
$1,000 - Replace 40 ft. beam
10. If you don't feel qualified to inspect a home, or aren't sure, chances are you require the service
of a professional certified home inspector.
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10 Costly & Overlooked Areas
