Home inspector in Beaver County, PA

What do inspectors look for in Beaver County homes?

Much of the county's river-town housing was built when the region's mills and manufacturers were at full strength, so older homes on narrow lots and steep streets are common. Newer subdivisions have grown up in townships such as Hopewell and Center.

Common points of attention include:

• Hillside lots: retaining walls, drainage, foundation movement and water entering basements
• River-valley and low-lying properties: basement dampness and sump pump condition
• Older electrical and plumbing systems, plus roofs and chimneys that have reached the end of their life
• Radon, which is worth testing for throughout western Pennsylvania
• Parts of southwestern Pennsylvania have a history of underground mining, and Pennsylvania runs a Mine Subsidence Insurance program, so buyers should ask about it

An inspection reports visible conditions, not the ground beneath the house, so questions about flood or subsidence risk are best raised with your insurer as well.

Older houses in these towns may have had additions, finished basements or converted attics, and each change is a chance for hidden problems. Inspectors look for signs of moisture behind finished walls, non-standard wiring, loose stair and deck connections and venting that does not terminate where it should.

Hillsides raise extra questions. A house that sits below a slope can see runoff at the foundation, and a house at the top may have a retaining wall that has leaned or cracked. Gutters and downspouts that discharge at the foundation are one of the simplest things to fix and one of the most worth noticing.

Finished basements in flood-prone or low-lying spots deserve care. Look for stains, efflorescence on masonry, musty odors and signs of past repairs.