Duluth Georgia / Norcross Georgia
Certified Inspector

Home, Condo, Commercial Inspection Services

Renovated Or Being Renovated

Properties that have been renovated, remodeled, refurbished, or rehabilitated (hereafter, “renovated”) or are in the process of being renovated create a unique set of problems for me.

Properties that are being renovated at time of inspection
While I understand the time contingency periods in real estate contracts, it is not a good idea to do a property inspection while the property or areas of the property are being renovated, nor is it a good idea to do an inspection when appliances have not yet been installed (which commonly occurs with new construction). It is possible that as some areas or items that are being renovated are completed, or as appliances are being installed, other areas or items might be damaged or fail. Most items typically fail at two specific times: (1) upon first use, and (2) at the end of its useful life.

Properties that have been renovated
Renovation of an older structure obscures visual clues concerning how the roof, walls, and foundation have interacted with each other over the years. Renovation of an older home can cause the structure, or certain areas of the structure, to behave as a newer home depending on the type and quality of the renovation.

Although a newly renovated home is usually quite beautiful, it is that beauty itself that causes problems since buyers become emotionally attached to the beauty and neglect the necessary due diligence concerning how the property was renovated. If you are buying a renovated home, be wary of that renovation itself and make sure that you get from the seller all receipts for any and all renovation. Only by getting those receipts can you be assured that renovation was done properly, and those receipts, hopefully from licensed and qualified professionals, typically provide you with appropriate information concerning any warranty or guarantee.

Also note that property inspections are visual inspections, so once all those visual clues of past history have been modified, deleted, or otherwise obscured, I can’t do much to help you other than report on what I saw at the time of the inspection and recommend that you get all the receipts from the seller. And as hard as I might try, I cannot predict the future, and I don’t claim to be able to do so, but when I have no visual clues concerning past history, it is impossible to even guess what might happen down the road, so get those receipts from the seller, and get them soon. In fact, make that phone call right now to the seller or seller’s agent and request those receipts. They are that important to you.

Recommendations
If your property has had any part of it renovated, or if any part was still being renovated or constructed at the time of the inspection:

If you have any questions about anything, simply contact me.

        Thank you for using The Upscale Home Inspections Service.

www.upscaleinspections.com