What to Expect
A home cannot 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.
Depending on the size and condition of the home, a thorough home inspection will take around 3 hours. Ideally, you will accompany your inspector during the inspection process, 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've found with any problem areas and conditions noted, as well as, digital photos, so you can easily identify them.
A thorough home inspection will include the following:
Depending on the size and condition of the home, a thorough home inspection will take around 3 hours. Ideally, you will accompany your inspector during the inspection process, 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've found with any problem areas and conditions noted, as well as, digital photos, so you can easily identify them.
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)
- Attics (insulation, ventilation, rafters, joists and collar ties, trusses, wiring attachments, and other visible related items)
- Plumbing and Fixtures (visible distribution piping, hose bibs, sinks and faucets, bath/showers and toilets, visible vent and sewer piping, and other plumbing system components)
- Interior (floors and ceilings, walls, stairs (if applicable) and banisters, finishes, sinks, cabinets, shelving, and other visible interior-related components)
- Heating and Cooling Systems (visible ductwork, thermostat, basic operation of air conditioning and heat, 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)
- Crawl Spaces and Foundation (insulation, ventilation, posts, vapor barriers, utility attachment, structural items, floors and walls, and columns)
- Exterior (siding materials, attachments, windows, doors, sashes and lintels, vents, entryways, and other visible exterior related components)
- Decks and Porches
- Fireplaces
- Safety-related issues
- Overall Structure
The Scope of the Inspection
The purpose of a home inspection is to discover all significant defects, problems and concerns that are visually discernible during the inspection process. The inspection process involves evaluations of the visible components, such as the foundations, site drainage, floor framing, heating and plumbing systems, electrical panel and systems, walls/ceilings, doors, windows, fireplaces, attic spaces, siding/cladding, roofing materials/conditions and framing, pest inspections, etc.
There are components that are commonly not inspected during a standard Home Inspection- these are almost always excluded from the inspections process. It is recommended that a licensed and qualified specialist inspect and evaluate these components as they apply to your house; septic systems and wells, underground water lines and meters, pools, hot tubs, sprinkler systems, intercom systems, phone, Cat5 and TV cable systems, low voltage systems, hazardous materials, environmental items, oil tanks, and many others.
There are limitations to the inspection process, because they are visually inspection only; dismantling of components on the property, opening up walls and ceilings, excavating soils are excluded from the inspection process. The removal of the electrical panel covers, operating and testing some appliances and the heating system, operating windows and doors, operating water supply system and testing drain lines, as well as, the garage door openers are usually considered standard testing procedures for a home inspection. Testing of standard ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and determining the location of these, as well as, testing outlets and light fixtures is also part of the inspection process.
There are components that are commonly not inspected during a standard Home Inspection- these are almost always excluded from the inspections process. It is recommended that a licensed and qualified specialist inspect and evaluate these components as they apply to your house; septic systems and wells, underground water lines and meters, pools, hot tubs, sprinkler systems, intercom systems, phone, Cat5 and TV cable systems, low voltage systems, hazardous materials, environmental items, oil tanks, and many others.
There are limitations to the inspection process, because they are visually inspection only; dismantling of components on the property, opening up walls and ceilings, excavating soils are excluded from the inspection process. The removal of the electrical panel covers, operating and testing some appliances and the heating system, operating windows and doors, operating water supply system and testing drain lines, as well as, the garage door openers are usually considered standard testing procedures for a home inspection. Testing of standard ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and determining the location of these, as well as, testing outlets and light fixtures is also part of the inspection process.