Home inspections are a very important part of building or buying a house. There are different agencies and companies which offer their services for this purpose. In a house inspection, trained officials can survey the plans and construction of the house you are buying or building. They can provide you with their trained and expert advice and tell you the positives and negatives of the house. With their years of experience, they can point out any major red flags regarding living in the house or the construction. Thus in order to ensure that the house you will be living in is secured and your purchase is not a loss incurring one, it is important to conduct proper Off the plan inspections and Frame Inspections as and when needed.
Understanding what off the plan purchases are
Before understanding why you need to conduct thorough off the plan inspections, it is important to understand what an off the plan purchase is. Often a constructor or builder sells off some part apartments or flats even before construction has started. This is commonly found in large buildings or complexes with a large number of apartments. Builders sometimes do this also to secure finances in the building process to aid the expense and cost of construction. In such situations, you will have to pay a part of the total price of the apartment even before construction, simply by looking at the plans or drawings of the apartment to be made.
Necessity for off the plan inspections
In the case of off the plan purchases, proper inspection becomes even more necessary than in the case of normal purchases. This is due to the fact that you cannot see the finished product before making a decision. You cannot judge the apartment itself before committing to buying it. All you are getting access to are drawings and plans. The untrained eye will not be able to see any flaws or faults in the construction. Thus, Off the plan Inspections become extremely vital so that a trained official can help you in making the correct decision.
Why frame inspections are needed
Another type of house inspection which is extremely necessary is Frame Inspections. In this type of inspection, the very framing or in other words the structure of the house is checked properly for faults. Improper framing can make the house susceptible to damage from earthquakes, rain, hail, snow etc. The risk of fire starting or the house collapsing can also be high in a house that has not been properly framed. Thus, it is extremely important for the safety of those living in the house that the framing is properly inspected from an early stage itself.
Things to look for in frame inspections
Most inspectors test or survey the same basic aspects of a house under construction. There are certain areas which should never be skipped or ignored during frame inspections. These include checking that all frame members are well-connected, straight and plumb, that the wall frames are secured at top or bottom plate, that the doors and windows are all properly placed etc. Checking these properly can ensure the construction of a sturdy and safe house.
