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Imagine What Can Happen If You Don’t Have A Home Inspection!

home inspection and property inspection — Do not let this happen to you! Be wise! Rather have one of my property inspections like a Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection in Gauteng or part of the North West province!

Why use THE HOME DETECTIVE for your home inspection?

Firstly, you get the best home inspection and most detailed home inspection report in Gauteng! You not only get a defects report but you also get a property inspection report detailing future maintenance issues! Moreover, my inspection reports include advice for repairs and maintenance which is helpful if you are a DIY enthusiast or handy around the house!

Secondly, your inspection is performed and the report is produced by a highly qualified and Certified Professional Inspector (CPI) who is a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)!

Moreover, I come highly recommended on Google Business!

There is no doubt that without a home inspection and report, you are at risk! This is especially true with the “Voetstoots” clause in the “Offer to Purchase“!

At The Home Detective, I understand just how stressful it can be to buy a new home. A home is not just what it appears to be on the surface. It can consist of more than 500 different components, some of them very complex. This includes the roof, windows, doors, structural concrete, brickwork, framework, and components such as electrical, plumbing, cooking, heating, and air conditioning systems.

When considering a home for purchase, minor cosmetic repairs are usually acceptable. However, you need to make sure that everything beneath the surface is in good shape.

How I can help you

I will help you reduce your stress and uncertainty when you are looking for a new home. I will help you choose the right property. My Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection will help reduce the risk of buying a house with structural defects, leaks, dampness and other defects.

Furthermore, I work only for you! My home inspection services give you unbiased, objective information about the property. Above all, I am an independent and impartial home inspector.

In addition, a comprehensive or critical home inspection and report is not going to cost you an arm or a leg! Don’t let the home inspection cost put you off! It may cost a bit, but it could end up saving you many thousands in repairs and maintenance!

My inspection services for your peace of mind

You don’t need to attend the inspection if you do not wish to. Your inspection report with marked-up photos of the defects will clearly illustrate the condition of the home to you. However, attending the home inspection will give you more insight into the property. In addition, you will also be able to raise concerns while I am inspecting and have your questions answered.

Your comprehensive home inspection report will include:

Defects of the property and suggestions for repairing them
The property’s strong points,
Regular maintenance is a feature of any property. The report will give you a good idea of the maintenance you may need to do.
For ease of understanding the inspection report will include photographs. I am also happy to give telephone support if required!

Why choose The Home Detective?

At The Home Detective, I strive to ensure my home inspection services and reports are not only the best in Gauteng but are the best in the business. I value customer service above everything else.

I use the latest home inspection technology and equipment. Therefore, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a thorough and detailed property inspection service you won’t find elsewhere!

In addition, I inspect properties in Gauteng from the north of Pretoria to Johannesburg South and from Brits in the Northwest Province to Springs in the east.

All my inspections exceed the minimum requirements of InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice and I observe InterNACHI’s Code of Ethics.

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THE HOME DETECTIVE » Homeowner » Maintenance inspection

09/02/202001/10/2023

About Rental Inspections

Rental property inspections

If you’re either a tenant or a landlord, you should be familiar with incoming and outgoing rental inspections. They are required by law under the Rental Housing Act.

Landlords and tenants often disagree on who is liable for repairs or damages to a rental property. The best way to avoid conflict is to have a thorough inspection report done. Property inspections help landlords to protect the value of their investment. They provide peace of mind to tenants by ensuring the property is safe for habitation.

However, it’s important that both parties understand what is involved in rental property inspection and the responsibilities of each party.

What is a rental property inspection?

The primary purpose of a rental inspection is to evaluate and record the condition of the property, inside and out. Therefore, I will check the condition of the property, ensuring that services like plumbing and electrics are in working order. The secondary purpose of an inspection is to make sure tenants are keeping to the conditions of their lease.

What does a rental property inspector look for?

I will check the following key areas:

1) The general condition of the property

Upon arrival, I will carry out a quick appraisal of the general condition of the property. Specifically, I will check the condition of the paintwork, both inside and outside. I will the condition of windows, and ensure doors are in good working order and secured properly. In addition, I will check internal and external walls for cracks (which may require further examination).

2) Assess tenant living conditions

Furthermore, I will also assess the tenants living conditions. The state a tenant lives in is an indication as to their ability to look after the property. Generally, landlords want tenants who keep the place tidy, since tidy tenants are more likely to look after the property. While tenants aren’t evicted because they are untidy, landlords may not want to renew the rental agreement for such tenants.

3) Check for illegal activity

I do not search through the tenant’s personal belongings. However, I will check to make sure no illegal activity is being carried out without interfering with the tenants right to privacy.

4) Damp patches and mould

Tenants seldom mention the presence of mould because they are not aware of how serious and dangerous it can be. If mould is present, I will try to establish the cause of the mould or damp.

29/08/201903/01/2023

Damp Walls

Damp Walls In Your Home

I posted on my blog, in November last year, about damp walls that arise as a result not having gutters on your home to control the flow of rainwater off your roof.

On Saturday I inspected a four-year-old property that had a one tile overhang on the roof, no gutters but had paving surrounding the house.

However, the external walls of the house were in a desperate state because of the three most destructive mistakes architects, developers, builders and homeowners make!

As a result, I’m going to repeat part of the issues mentioned in my blog again!

Damp walls caused by no gutters

Gutters collect the rainwater runoff from the roof, discharging it into downpipes which conveys the rainwater away from the house in a controlled manner. In addition, they also protect the timber roof structure at the eaves of the house. Furthermore, gutters protect the exterior walls, windows and doors of the house and its foundation from damp and potential damage.

The splashing up against the walls was the most serious cause of the penetrating damp on the walls of the house. Moreover, the crazing cracking (spiderweb-like fine cracking) in the plasterwork was the main indicator of the penetrating damp caused splashing up of rainwater. No cracking was observed higher up on the walls.

Even if your house has a reduced overhang at the eaves, gutters will still provide the required protection against heavy rain and wind storms your house may be subjected to.

Insufficient roof overhang at the eaves

Roofs with no gutters which have a two-tile overhang (600mm in the case of a metal roof) or less will allow water to pour from the roof close to the walls, windows and doors and the foundation.

13/07/201912/06/2023

Section Title Schemes

Responsibilities of Owners and Body Corporates

I do a fair amount of inspections in sectional title schemes. Often, owners ask me if body corporates will pay for repairs inside their units. Obviously, their concern is about damage caused by external factors such as rainstorms, burst geysers, and so on.

Each case is usually based on its merits. Usually, the body corporate’s trustees use their discretion when deciding to whom they allocate the cost of repairs and replacement. However, there are many grey areas and differences between the owner’s and body corporate’s liability and responsibility.

The Body Corporate’s obligations

Body corporates are responsible for the repairs and maintenance and upkeep of the common properties.

Furthermore, the body corporate maintains all pipes, ducts, wiring, etc., for the common property and services to more than one unit.

Your obligations as an owner of a section

You must maintain and keep your section in a good state. Moreover, you must also keep any part of the common property to which you have the right neat and tidy. These are exclusive use areas such as gardens, patios, balconies, parking areas, garages, etc.

07/07/201910/08/2019

Boundary Walls

Preventing and Repairing Cracks in Boundary Walls

Damaged boundary walls around your property can spoil the whole look and feel of your property. Furthermore, cracked and leaning walls can also pose a danger to passers-by should the wall fall over.

This article explains the correct way to repair boundary walls and install expansion joints!

Firstly, if your walls have ugly cracks and broken plasterwork and brickwork at the expansion joints do not plaster them up as shown in the photos below!

Furthermore, the work done on these boundary walls will result in more cracking in the walls!

Many boundary walls and retaining walls may fail prematurely due to the lack of provision for movement. However, this is usually not a fault in the materials used, but usually a lack of proper design. Even when the design is correct, the construction of the boundary wall and expansion joints are often faulty.

What is an expansion joint?

It is a separation between two portions of the same structure. A butt joint in a boundary wall is not an expansion joint!

Expansion joints in boundary walls

When building a boundary wall, an expansion joint is a separation designed to relieve stress on building materials caused by movement induced by thermal expansion and contraction. They are therefore specifically provided in boundary walls to avoid cracks occurring in the wall.

Temperature changes and seasonal changes mostly cause the movement in the boundary walls. However, expansion joints also permit movement due to ground settlement, seismic events and expansive soils.