residential homes - structural evaluation

huangyhg

residential homes - structural evaluation
this is a personal use post, so if you don't feel the need to reply, then that is quite ok.
being a biological engineer, i never had any formal structural training.  my wife and i are in the process of buying a home, and i was hoping some of you structural folks may be able to point me in the right direction as far as what types of things i should be keeping my eye out for from a structural standpoint.  i know the obvious basics (cracks in the foundation, water damage, etc.) but i have a limited knowledge base concerning much else.
any tips, pointers, or reference items you could suggest would be much appreciated.
thanks!
building inspectors typically have a measuring rod/device where they can tell elevation differences in various parts of the house.  doors or cabinets not closing properly or swinging without being touched are signs of differential settlement.  if you're in an area where termites exist, have the house inspected specifically for termite damage.  this is usually a different inspector from a building inspector.  if there's an attic, check it to make sure all the structural   
i recommend hiring a professional home inspector to take a thorough look at the house for you.  check their credentials and talk to them before hiring in order to give yourself confidence that they know what they're doing.  i'm a structural engineer, so the first house i bought i was sure it wasn't going to fall down, but the inspector impressed me with all the things (other than structural) he looked at while inspecting the house.
well, check the foundation.  make sure there is no settlement/crack.  check the basement wall if it does have a basement.  other than that, hire an inspector to make sure there is no asbestos, mold.  if its old, probably there are some lead paint (i wont freak out about it).  i think the most critical thing other than the structural is the plumbing.  if you see a lot of steel water pipes, you probably have to change it sometime soon.
also, check if the outlets are mostly grounded (3 prongs, but sometime 3 prongs plugs are still not grounded)!  if they are not, then you cant run your nice flat screen tv, computer.  just make sure you have enough grounded plugs in the office, living room, etc.   if the plugs are only 2 prongs, look if the wires are in metal conduits.  if it is, it will be easy to put grounded plugs.  if it is not, then you might want to look at other houses.  
hire an inspector.  the reports that i have gotten in the past were 20-50 pages and well written.  if nothing else it will be  a good checklist for future repair/upgrades.
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rust never sleeps
neither should your protection
a lot depends on where you are going to buy the house.  if you are buying a home where there is expansive soil, i would try to get my hands on a soils report, even if it was from a neighbor.  also, check neighboring houses for foundation problems.  could be a sign of things to come, especially if they were built by the same builder.
if you are in a high wind area, make sure some effort was made to install hurricane clips.  if you are in a high seismic and / or a high wind area, i would make sure that at the very least plywood was installed on all of the exterior walls.