Home Inspection and Outbuildings - Inspecting All the Outbuildings

A home inspection may include an examination of the main structure of the house, but there may also be other structures on the same property that should also be part of the examination. Many of these structures may not be physically connected with the main house. Many of these structures are commonly called outbuildings, and many of these are just as important to home inspection as the main house itself.

An outbuilding may refer to any number of physical structures. It may refer to a pool house that comes with its own electrical, HVAC system and plumbing system. However, an outbuilding can also be as simple in design as the tool shed in the backyard where you store all of your tools.

Here are some other common examples of outbuildings:

• Detached garage
• Barn
• Outhouse
• Detached carport
• Boat house
• Storage shed
• Apartment/In-Law's Residence
• Smokehouse
• Root cellar
• Pool house

It is common to have lower standards for some outbuildings since, unlike the primary dwellings, they are not meant to be inhabited. The most common purpose of many outbuildings is as some kind of storage.

Outbuildings - Some Common Concerns

Even though they are not primary dwellings, there are many common concerns that come with having outbuildings on your property. Outbuildings, since they are often out of sight, sometimes remain out of mind, as well. It can be easy to focus on your primary dwelling and ignore outbuilding maintenance problems altogether.

Here are some potential outbuilding concerns that you should look for during an inspection:

• Broken windows
• Insufficient or damaged foundation
• Deteriorated siding, framing, roofing and trim
• Water damage or penetration
• Inadequate roof or wall framing
• Structural movement

A home inspection need not be a difficult topic. Simply remain aware about the state of your outbuilding structures so you won't get any nasty surprises during the inspection process.