Home Buyer Inspections
On average, a home inspection will take 2-4 hours to conduct, depending on the size and condition of the home. I encourage my clients to attend the entire home inspection, from beginning to end.
Within 24 hours of a completed inspection, you will have your report in your e-mail inbox in the form of an easy to read PDF document.
Your Inspection
What’s Included
As a member of interNACHI Home Inspection Association, you can count on your home inspection completed with the highest standard of practice. I cover every aspect of your prospective home to ensure no issues go unnoticed.
Roof Covering
- I walk roofs to inspect them
- Gutters and roof drainage systems
- Flashing
- Skylights, roof caps, roof vents, plumbing vents, and other roof penetrations are inspected.
Chimney, Fireplaces
- Chimney crowns.
- Chimney walls.
- Chimney flashing.
- Fuel-burning fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace inserts.
- Fuel-burning accessories installed in fireplaces.
Exterior
- Wall coverings (‘siding’)
- Windows.
- Doors.
- Decks.
- Balconies.
- Stoops.
- Steps.
- Porches.
- Guards (‘guardrails’)
- Drainage and grading that is likely to affect the building.
- Retaining walls.
- Vegetation that is likely to affect the building.
- Walkways.
- Patios.
- Driveways.
- Foundation walls.
- Vent terminals and air intakes.
- Exterior faucets.
Basement / Foundation / Structure
- Foundation walls
- Basement floor
- Crawl spaces
- Sump Systems, including the sump basket, sump pump, sump cover, and extension piping.
- Floor structure (posts, beams, joists, etc.)
- Basement insulation.
- Inspect for signs of basement moisture / water intrusion.
Electrical
- Exterior electrical components, including the service drop, service entrance conductors, cables, and raceways.
- The main panel and any subpanels, including removal of panel cover to inspect the wiring inside.
- Service grounding
- Interior electrical components, including the majority of outlets, switches, and lights.
- Ground fault circuit interrupters
- Arc fault circuit interrupters
- Smoke and CO alarms are recommended when not present
Plumbing
- Drain, waste, and vent pipes.
- Water distribution pipes.
- The visible portion of the water main, which is the water supply pipe that brings water into the home.
- Water heaters.
- Water heater vents.
- Clothes washers and dryers.
- Floor drains.
- Sinks.
- Toilets.
- Tubs.
- Showers.
- Gas lines.
- Report the locations of the main gas and water valves, and typically point these out during the inspection.
Heating
- Installed heating equipment such as furnaces, boilers, and space heaters.
- Furnace filters are inspected and clients are shown how to change the filter.
- Ductwork
- Registers are all checked for operation.
- Vent connector and vent.
- Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) or Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs).
Cooling
- Central and permanently installed cooling equipment.
- Temperature difference testing is used to determine if cooling equipment is operational.
- Condensate disposal.
Interior
- Ceilings
- Walls
- Floors
- Doors
- Windows
- Skylights
- Stairs, handrails, and guards
- Counters and cabinets
- Vent fans
- Kitchen appliances
Attic
- We access nearly every attic to inspect them
- Framing and sheathing
- Exhaust fans and ducts
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Locating air leaks, if possible
Garage
- Overhead doors
- Garage door openers
- All of the other stuff that most folks would probably expect; doors, stairs, walls, floor, electrical, etc.