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A home inspection is like a checkup for your house. A comprehensive visual inspection will be performed by nationally certified inspectors. The client is encouraged to be present at the inspection to see first hand the condition of the house. Our inspectors will follow the NACHI standards of practice and will review the structures and systems that make up a home. Click on an area below to view a detailed description of what will be covered in your inspection. The inspectors will, if possible, enter the attic to determine the insulation type and effectiveness, ventilation, structural integrity and style, signs of leakage, and the roof sheathing condition. If we are unable to enter, we will make a "head and shoulders" inspection from the attic access. The inspectors will evaluate the general condition of the basement, report and signs of leakage, attempt to determine the cause of the leakage, evaluate the condition of the walls for signs of cracking and recent movement, examine the condition of the sill plate (board on top of the basement/foundation wall that the entire house rests on), report on the size and condition of the visible floor joists, check for the presence of a floor drain. We will make an effort to enter a crawlspace and check for a vapor barrier, floor insulation, and all conditions included with a basement inspection. If we are unable to enter the crawlspace, we will do a "head and shoulders" inspection from the crawlspace access. The inspectors will report on the style and condition of the doors, hinges, knobs, and any windows that may be integral with the doors. We will check for proper operation and proper sealing of exterior doors. We will report the style and condition of windows, proper operation and ability to lock, signs of moisture damage or water entry, and proper weather stripping. The inspectors will evaluate the exterior electrical service from the utility, whether the service is fed from overhead or underground, condition of the meter base and integrity of the entrance conductor attachment to the house (if overhead feed), general condition of the service entrance conductors, the size of the main service panel and any subpanels present, and the size of the main breaker. We will remove the cover of the service panels (unless the condition deems this unsafe) and inspect the general condition of the wiring, the proper sizing of the circuit breakers for the branch circuits they protect, the presence of "double lugging", a condition in which two branch circuits are feed from one breaker, and the integrity of the grounding system. The inspector will check the accessible outlets with an instrument that can evaluate the condition of the splices and terminations associated with the branch circuit, whether the outlet is wired correctly, or if is wired with reverse polarity (hot and neutral reversed), the presence and effectiveness of a third grounding conductor, and the presence of a false ground, a common handyman wiring error. We will report on the presence of a Ground Fault Current Interrupter (GFCI), where needed and test for proper operation. We will report any open splices requiring protection and the presence of outdated knob and tube wiring. We will report of the style and condition of the flooring and the integrity of the subflooring if possible. The inspectors will report on the general condition of the garage, the roof condition, framing style and condition, the floor condition, wiring and plumbing if present, presence of a fire rated wall if attached to the main structure, the operation of the garage door, and evaluate the safety systems of an automatic door opener if present. We will report the make, model and serial number of the furnace and permanently installed air conditioners, furnace fuel source, overall condition of the units, and the method of heating (forced air, baseboard hot water, etc.) The inspector will operate the controls of the furnace and if possible the air conditioner. We will test for the presence of carbon monoxide in forced air ducts, which will detect holes in the heat exchanger, a very dangerous condition. The inspector will attempt to evaluate the flame of a furnace to ensure it is operating efficiently. We will use a combustible gas detector to detect gas leaks on a natural gas or liquified propane system.
The inspectors will determine the source of the water, and the method of waste disposal, the size of the main water line, the condition and location of the main shutoff valve, the condition and location of the main waste line, the presence of any leaks in the supply or drain lines, the operation of drain stops, the condition and effectiveness of the traps and venting, the condition and operation of the toilets, test for a significant drop in flow when two or more fixtures are used together (functional flow) which would indicate a deficiency in supply size, pressure, or a restriction. We will report the make, model and serial number of the water heater, its general condition and fuel source, and attempt to determine its capacity. The inspectors will attempt to walk on the roof, but is not required to access any roof. We will report the style and condition of the roof covering, attempt to determine if more than one layer is present, inspect any roof penetrations for proper flashing and caulking. We will examine fascia and soffit systems for ventilation and general condition, the presence and effectiveness of ridge and gable venting if applicable. The inspectors will report the condition of chimneys and skylights if present, and will inspect the condition and effectiveness of gutters and downspouts. The inspector will determine the style and condition of the exterior siding, report any deficiencies including physical damage, evidence of moisture intrusion, and the effectiveness of any flashing relevant to the siding. The inspector will report the condition and style of the interior walls in each room inspected, noting any visible damage from moisture or from physical abuse. The inspectors will report the condition and effectiveness of any visible structural elements including roof trusses or rafters, ceiling joists, floor joists, and visible wall structure.
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