Performing health and safety checks on your new home is very important. Regardless of how desperate you are to own a home, it is important to keep in mind that no home is worth risking the health and life of your family for.
A home may tick all your boxes at first glance, but you can never be too sure of what potential health hazards lie behind the walls, beneath the floors, or above the ceiling.
So before you sign any dotted lines, it is necessary to conduct a proper home inspection to ascertain the true safety and health issues of the property. Therefore try to always make the following health and safety checks.
Health and Safety Checks
Busy Streets
In most cases, you’ll find that residential streets have enough traffic lights, ramps, and other things to control speed, but that doesn’t necessarily control reckless driving. If you have younger kids, it is important to pay attention to homes near busy streets and observe rush hour driving patterns if you can.
Kids have a habit of wandering away out of curiosity. And even when you manage to keep them safe on your lawn, there is always the potential danger of a reckless driver or an out-of-control car skidding into your property.
Therefore, you should consider hiring or keeping the contact of a wrongful death lawyer for legal assistance if you or any member of your family experiences harm or even death due to reckless driving— especially if you choose to live in an area with busy streets.
Conduct a Quick Electrical Inspection
When inspecting a home, be sure to go with an electrician. Otherwise, you can conduct a quick assessment of the building’s wiring on your own.
First, observe the number of outlets in each room and their location. Be sure that they all have a third hole for the grounding pin, indicating that the house is grounded. Next, flip the lights on and off a couple of times.
When on, listen for any sizzling or popping sounds, as they could indicate an electrical issue.
Finally, watch for Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and make sure they’re installed in areas where electricity and water may meet. GFCIs will protect you from any electric shock if an electric appliance comes into contact with water.
Foundation or Structural Issues
A faulty foundation will not only cost you a lot of money to fix, but it is also very dangerous. The easiest way to spot structural dangers is to look for cracks in the walls. If the building comes with a basement, be sure to inspect its walls to ensure no cracks, as they can allow moisture (and pests) to enter the building.
Look Out for Potential Health Hazards
You might also want to pay attention to the following potential health hazards.
- Mold: Mold can be a major air pollutant in any home and cause various health issues when exposed to a high concentration. The typical signs of mold in a building include weird smells, water stains, dark rings, discoloration, etc.
- Radon: This is an odorless and tasteless radioactive gas released by decaying elements like uranium, radium, and thorium.
- Asbestos: usually found in buildings constructed before the 80s.