Byron Center has been one of the faster-growing communities south of Grand Rapids, and a large share of what sells there is recent construction on what was farmland a generation ago. That gives the inspection a particular character.
New and near-new houses rarely have worn-out components. What they have is unfinished work, and the further out from the core a subdivision was built, the more likely it is that a crew moved quickly. Attic insulation that thins toward the eaves, duct joints that were never sealed, penetrations left open through the top plate, bath fans venting into the attic, and grading established for the plat rather than for the finished lot are all common and all worth documenting while a builder warranty is still live.
The other half of Byron Center is genuinely rural, and rural houses bring their own list. Where a property is on a private well and septic system, those deserve separate attention and often separate specialists, and we will tell you plainly when something falls outside the scope of a standard home inspection rather than glossing over it.
Kent County is EPA Radon Zone 2, predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Newer, tighter construction does not reduce radon risk; sometimes it concentrates it.
We have conducted over 25 home inspections in Byron Center, Michigan, and here are some of the things we have commonly found.
Roofs: On average, less than 10% of the homes we inspected in Byron Center had gutters or chimney caps.
Plumbing: In Byron Center, less than 10% of the homes we’ve inspected had galvanized plumbing. This is great!
Electrical: Less than 50% of the homes we inspected in Byron Center had updated electrical boxes. Less than 50% of homes in Byron Center had knob and tube wiring.
Foundation: Less than 50% of homes we’ve inspected in Byron Center had structural concerns, or asbestos concerns.
