When buying or selling a home, many homeowners falsely believe that a home inspection will catch any chimney issues. However, while home inspectors may be able to spot problems in other parts of a home, most are not qualified to conduct a thorough chimney inspection. Because of this, it is important to have your chimney inspected before buying or selling a home.
By having the chimney inspected before a home is bought or sold, both buyers and sellers can have peace of mind that the fireplace and chimney are safe and ready for use.
Homebuyers want to make sure their new investment is safe and sound for themselves and their family. If the new house has a fireplace, this includes making sure the chimney is in good condition. Once under contract on a home, buyers can request an independent chimney sweep conduct an inspection in addition to a home inspection.
Even if the sellers have an inspection report from a chimney sweep, you can still ask to have another sweep do an independent inspection. This second inspection can confirm the findings of the chimney report – or uncover issues that were not previously disclosed. Having the chimney independently inspected can ensure that any fireplace or chimney issues are fixed before the sale is finalized.
If you recently bought a new home but the sellers did not include findings from a chimney inspection in their disclosures, you may want to have the chimney inspected before lighting your first fire. This is especially true if you bought an older home, a home that was unoccupied for a long period of time before purchase, or a home where the fireplace was rarely or infrequently used.
No matter your reasons for selling your current home, you should consider having the chimney swept and inspected before putting it on the market. Not only does have the chimney swept and inspected give you a cleaner and more efficient fireplace system, but it can also alert you of any chimney damage that has occurred or repairs that need to be made. Finding chimney damage before you put your home on the market gives you plenty of time to make repairs as well as reduces the risk of any unpleasant surprises being uncovered during the home inspection. In addition to allowing you to make repairs, having a report from a certified chimney sweep can also help put buyers at ease about the condition of the chimney.
If you have experienced any significant chimney damage, you may be required to have an inspection. In cases of chimney damage such as a chimney fire or other natural disaster, a Level 2 chimney inspection may be needed; in this type of inspection, closed-circuit cameras are used to evaluate the entire length of the chimney for signs of damage or deterioration.
Having a chimney inspection done before buying or selling a home can make sure there are no problems with the fireplace and chimney and give everyone involved peace of mind. If you’re getting ready to sell your home or are about to sign the paperwork on a new home purchase, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule your chimney inspection.