Inspecting a Flipped House

Buying a flipped home is an appealing option. Most often, these homes require very little work from a cosmetic standpoint. As a first time home buyer, these cosmetic upgrades can be extremely appealing. The main thing to be considered when viewing a home that was flipped, is whether the upgrades made were simply cosmetic or if work was done on the major structural and mechanical systems as well.

Some important items to look at are the types of plumbing and drainage. It is also beneficial to determine what type of wiring is in the home. Replacing the plumbing and wiring throughout the home can be costly so it’s definitely helpful if this can be determined early on. While our inspectors are limited to what they can see during the inspection process without cutting into the walls, these are still items that are included in the scope of the home inspection.

Older homes may have had some structural changes made to create a more open concept as has been more popular in recent years. According to one of our inspectors, one can learn a lot by looking at the ceiling in the home. Patches in the ceiling may be an indication that there was work done in that area. It may also be possible to determine where there may have previously been a wall. If the inspector suspects that a wall was removed, this will prompt further inspection to ensure that the ceiling is properly supported without the wall there.

If you are present during the inspection appointment, our inspectors will take time to go over their findings with you and answer any questions that you may have. The hope would be that the inspector does not find anything of major concern, but it’s wise to have an inspection done during your option period to minimize coming across costly surprises. Our scheduling team is ready to help you from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week and our online scheduler is available 24 hours a day at www.inspectorteam.com.