Buying a home is a tremendous responsibility. When you finally find that dream house and you are ready to buy, things can seem euphoric. In some instances, potential home buyers dismiss small issues, and overlook some elements of the home. It’s easy to get caught up in the positive emotion that comes through with a new place to live. So much so that some even forget about getting a full chimney inspection. Investing in real estate at any level should not be done without calling in a chimney sweep to look at this crucial piece of the puzzle.
Ask your Realtor about the chimney and see if they have a recommendation for chimney inspection. Many area Realtors will likely recommend that you call us here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service. We have a longstanding relationship with several Realtors in Delaware County.
The Problems Looming
Everything could look great on paper. You could walk through the home, fall in love, and want to purchase it right then and there. However, there could be several issues looming with the fireplaces. For starters, the interior lining of these have to be checked, cleaned or even replaced from time to time. If it isn’t, and you go to start a fire, you could see combustion and that leads to major problems. Well-meaning people have burned down their homes because they didn’t know that this was an issue. While chimney sweepers may seem like something out of a Disney movie, it’s very much a trade that is alive and well. The interior lining has to be cleared, and inspected properly.
Double Check the Waterproofing
Another angle that you will want to consider is that of waterproofing. When you call in a professional for a chimney inspection, they are going to take a look at the flashing, masonry, cap, and crown. They will look for cracks and simple leaks. Just one small leak, a droplet of water that continually comes through to the interior of your home could cause a world of issues. Down the line, mold spores could form and that can lead to serious health problems for you and your family. Mind you, this doesn’t happen in the wink of an eye, it takes time to develop. This can easily be fixed upon inspection and maintenance.
Gaining Peace of Mind
Overall, there’s something great about buying a house today. As you put your down payment down, and sign your papers for an investment of 15 to 30 years, make sure that you have peace of mind. Call for a real estate chimney inspection, and rest assured that Mother Nature is not going to take away the joy of starting a fire when the temperature drops a bit. A good fireplace, chimney, and home can be a warming element. When in doubt, do not utilize any haste in buying a home, instead, take your time and get a full run down of potential hazards. It will pay off dividends, and give you a better sense for the home that you are going to purchase.
We do several insurance and sales related chimney inspections every year. We regularly work with area Realtors to help ensure that the homes they sell are in excellent working order. The real estate inspection we provide is very in depth and we’ll provide a detailed report. Delaware County is an amazing place to buy and own a home because it’s where old meets new in some of the most amazing ways. Here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service, we offer a 15% discount during the month of June 2015, and we would like to remind you that Father’s Day is coming up soon! Take advantage of our 15% off this month and call us to inspect the chimney for dad so he doesn’t have to.