Purchasing a new home? Looking for a new home can be a really fun project for young couples and families alike. Getting to tour homes and imagine your future can be fun, but it can also be daunting and stressful. Often times, prospective homeowners feel they don't know everything they need to know going into a purchase. One common issue is knowing what inspections your home needs before you buy or rent it. Here are a few tests you should put on your list before you sign the dotted line.
Lead Paint Inspection
A lead paint inspection should be handled by a licensed and certified professional. Most importantly, you want to make sure any inspection is handled by a third party that is unbiased. Working with unbiased third-party inspectors ensures that results are not skewed or misreported. Lead paint inspections test walls, ceilings, doorways, windowsills, and other painted areas of the home for lead paint that is harmful to children and adults when it chips.
Mold Inspection
Another important test you should have done on any new property is mold testing. While you tour a home make sure to visually check basements, bathrooms, and kitchens for mold. Mold usually appears near pipes and dark/wet areas of the home. Even if you do not see mold in the basement, water damage or damp areas should be noted. A mold inspection ensures that mold is noted and identified. Many molds are harmless and can be taken care of by the homeowner, but there are strains of mold that cause serious health concerns for families and have to be dealt with professionally. Even if you don't see mold during a walkthrough, a full inspection can be helpful. Mold inspectors have more experience and know where to look for mold in a home.
Asbestos Inspection
Another important inspection is an asbestos inspection. Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma in children and adults. If the home you are buying was built before the 1980s it should be checked for asbestos. Roofing and insulation should be professionally checked for Asbestos to validate that a home is safe to move into.
Contact DCM Environmental Testing
If you are buying or selling a home, make sure it is professionally inspected by a third party like DCM Environmental Testing. Our team of licensed professionals provide unbiased tests to homeowners and buyers. Contact us through our website or at 1-617-481-5782
