After graduating from Purdue University, John Hagan went on to a successful career in engineering at IBM Corp. before transitioning into custom home building in 1999. Use expertise on building codes and construction techniques and materials that he gained while working in the custom home industry, he has become one of the top home inspectors in the North Carolina area. In this article, Hagan shares the knowledge he has gained as owner of Hagan Home Inspections to explain what makes home inspections in North Carolina different from those in other states.
Here in North Carolina, most homes are built on crawl spaces rather than full basements. So as a home inspector here, I see few basements on the average home. What that means for home sellers and buyers is that they need to make sure that they are hiring a home inspector who has plenty of experience looking at homes with crawl spaces because those are tight spots.
Many inspectors who might not have as much experience with homes in the North Carolina area are unfamiliar with how to properly inspect a crawl space, which can be a disadvantage to the home buyer if that inspector makes a mistake and misses a potential problem.
To fully inspect a crawl space and make sure everything is up to code, you need an inspector who really understands how foundations are built on crawl spaces. As a homebuyer, you also need to make sure that you are hiring someone who is willing to get right down in there and crawl around. Rather than hiring someone who will just get in and get out, you want to make sure that the home inspector on your job can get down in there and see every part. I always carry two flashlights with me when I’m on an inspection job in a tight crawl space because it is such a dark space. But that is because I have so much experience doing this, and I really am willing to take the time and get the job done right without rushing through.
Another thing that homeowners and homebuyers in North Carolina need to know is that we live in a humid environment. That type of weather can present special problems for a home especially older homes. And in the summer, the moisture can reach the point where it can become a real problem with homes especially down in the crawl spaces. To make sure that the home you are buying is in good shape, make sure that your inspector is going down into the crawl space to look for signs of moisture.
This attention to detail that separates good home inspectors from bad ones, and I would say that most people want to make sure they hire the person who is going to do a thorough job.
