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Inspection Overview
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is an objective visual analysis of a home's structure and systems. An inspection will determine the areas of a home that are not performing properly, items that are beyond their useful life or are unsafe. Inspections will include areas of the homes interior and exterior from the roof to the foundation and the exterior drainage and retaining walls. If problems or symptoms are found the inspector may recommend further evaluation. A home inspection is a visual inspection of the readily visible areas of the home to determine problems or conditions that exist at the time of the inspection. A home inspection is not a warranty. A warranty can be obtained separately. A home cannot pass or fail an inspection. A professional home inspection gives you an independent, unbiased view of any problems and their solutions, so that you will have all the facts you need to make a sound, informed decision.
A thorough home inspection will include the following:
~ Roof (shingles, flashings, chimneys, vents, trim and gutters, drip edges, skylights, downspouts, and other visible roof related items)
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~ Attics (insulation, ventilation, rafters, joists and collar ties, trusses, wiring attachments, and other visible related items) |
~ Plumbing and Fixtures (water pressure, water distribution system, hose bibs, sinks and faucets, bath/showers and toilets, sanitary system, and other plumbing system components) |
~ Interior (floors and ceilings, walls, doors, stairs (if applicable) and banisters, sinks, cabinets, built-in appliances, smoke detectors and safety-related items, and other visible interior-related components)
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~ Heating and Cooling Systems (furnace, air cleaning parts, ductwork, electronic monoxide testing, air conditioner and lines, and other visible related HVAC components) |
~ Electrical Systems (service entry and clearances, service panel, switches and outlets, visible wiring and junction boxes, grounding system, and other related electrical components) |
~ Basements, Crawl Spaces, and Foundation (insulation, ventilation, posts, vapor barriers, utility attachment, structural items, floors and walls, and columns) |
~ Exterior (siding materials, windows, doors, sashes and lintels, vents, entryways, and other visible exterior related components)
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~ Decks and Porches
~ Fireplaces |
~ Overall Structure
~ Environmental Issues (upon request) |
Depending on the size and condition of the home, a thorough home inspection will usually take between two and a half and three hours. Ideally, you will accompany your inspector during the consultation, so that you will have visual reinforcement of your written report. We take our inspection reports seriously. Every inspection is a complete and thorough analysis of all the major systems and components in the home. The report includes a clear description of what we have found with any problem areas noted, so you can easily identify them. Our home inspectors provide a free telephone consultation after your inspection.
Why do you need a home inspection?
The purchase of a home is one of the largest investments you will make. It is important that you know as much as possible about this purchase. A home inspector is trained to be able to evaluate the home in detail and give you a report that will allow you to make a good decision about purchasing the home. An inspection report will describe the home in detail and will highlight the areas that are concerns. Home inspections are a good idea even if you are already a homeowner. We all get physical checkups - why not give your home a checkup. Many homeowners are living in homes that have serious problems that if identified early can save considerable repair costs. Water leaks can cause serious and costly problems, but if they are caught early, they can be repaired at little cost. A home inspection will also give you an outline of the routine maintenance that needs to be done to the home. Home sellers should want an inspection to find problems that a buyers inspection would have found. The seller can then make the repairs prior to having the home go on the market.
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