We get many questions about the standard life expectancy of home components at our home inspections. Clients will ask us how long the roof will last, how old the water heater is, how long it will last, etc. These are tough questions to honestly answer because none of us have a crystal ball or can possibly know for sure. I've been to home inspections where the furnace is 48 years old and still running. Running, yes, but not very efficiently. I've also been in homes where the water heater was replaced only four years after the home was built. Clients are always asking their home inspector how much longer they think the roof will last. You never know; there could be a nasty wind or hailstorm tonight!
Protect your home by staying on top of maintenance and repairs.
Homeownership has many rewards and responsibilities.
When you were younger, it was your parent's responsibility. Maybe, even while you rented in the early days, you never had to think about these things. Now that you've bought a home, you've experienced your first home inspection, moved in, and stepped into a new reality. As time progresses, it seems like you're going to the home improvement store so you can repair or replace things just as often as you used to go to the mall for the fun of it.
There is an excellent resource that helps eliminate some of the guesswork.
Thanks to years of information gathered from testing and research, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors® (InterNACHI.org) has put together an extremely comprehensive list for the standard life expectancy of almost every imaginable item that is part of a home. If you’re wondering about a particular item, from A to Z, it’s probably on this list.
Summary
Although providing estimates of standard life expectancy is not part of the home inspection process, our home inspectors will document deficiencies in your home’s components. In some cases, we will make a note if a component may be at or near the end of its average lifespan.
At HomePro Inspections, our home inspectors are trained to inspect all areas of the home. Any issues found are documented in your home inspection report and recommended for resolution by a qualified professional.
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule your home inspection in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN areas. You can contact us today at (507) 202-8942 or use our online “Schedule Now” feature to schedule an appointment.