Buying a Home? Inspect the Garage Using These 5 Tips

Whether you're buying a historic home or a new construction, always check the garage. Although it's typically not the first priority on a home inspection, the garage can reveal tell tale signs of foundational or aesthetic damage. When entering the space, focus your attention on the following key areas to ensure you're making the right home investment:

1) Foundation and Floors

If you notice water pooling in certain areas of the garage floor, this is often a sign of an uneven foundation. Every surface should slope away from the house and be free of cracks, crevices and visible breakage. Without re-pouring concrete to fix the problem, you could run the risk of the water icing over in the winter and causing bacterial growth in the summer.

2) Garage Doors

First, determine if the home's garage door is a single panel or a roll-up sectional. Start with opening the door and watch to ensure that it moves smoothly with no jerking. Both sides should lift at the same time and show no signs of the motor struggling. Once it's open, check the springs or the track to make sure they're in good condition (no rust). Another good test is to inspect the safety sensors. This mechanism helps prevent injuries—the door should reverse its path if an object is obstructing it. Test this by placing a large item like broom handle in the door's path.

3) Fire Safety

All doors leading from the garage into the house should have a minimum 20-minute fire resistance rating. Additionally, there should be another exit other than the fire door leading into the house and the garage doors. If there is a wall that's shared by both the garage and the house, ask to ensure that both sides were dry-walled and that there are vents throughout the garage for ventilation.

4) Roof

Look for cracked, rotted or sagging roof framing along with the condition of the shingles if it's a detached garage. Too much snow and ice damage can cause problems like water damage or moisture seeping into the garage.

5) Evidence of Insects

The garage is a common place for homeowners to store pesticides. If you find large quantities of bottles, it's likely that the owners have dealt with a pest infestation on the property. You should also look for pest droppings and signs of nesting, especially in the corners of the garage and crowded areas.

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