Taylored Home Inspections
Using the HomeGuage inspection software, I prepare detailed, concise, online reports with pictures to make it easy for you to read.
Below are the typical services I cover for a standard home inspection. [Every home and property is different. A home inspection doesn't predict future conditions but can give great insight into current conditions and how they might progress.]
If you've asked yourself, "Should I get a home inspection on new construction?' or you want to get a home inspection before warranty expires....I can help!
Roof
Structural
Exterior & Grounds
An inspection includes roof covering including shingles and tiles, roof drainage components, flashing and sealing materials, skylights, chimneys, roof penetrations, ventilation, guttering.
Electrical System
Anything with service equipment, general circuit wiring, distribution panels, disconnect panels, light fixtures, ceiling fans, switches and receptacle outlets, GFCI and AFCI breakers.
Interior (Inside the Home)
Inside the home, an inspection can include walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and doors, heating and cooling, stairways.
Structural inspections include roof, wall, and floor structures and foundations of the house, and attached structures (porches and decks).
Heating & Cooling
Air conditioning and heat pump equipment, thermostats, electrical supply, air handler, condenser, and evaporator coils, condensate drain, supply and return duct.
Exterior and grounds may include: soffit and fascia, flashing, windows and doors, driveways, and entrance walkways, siding and trim grading of the ground around the house.
Plumbing
Plumbing for the water heater, water supply piping, hose bibs, waste and vent piping, fixtures, toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs.
Crawl Spaces
Garage
In the garage, a home inspection can cover flooring, walls, ceilings, person door, vehicle doors, and automatic door openers.
Crawlspaces are entered if accessible and conditions are safe. Crawlspaces that are lower than 30” are inspected and photographed from the perimeter.
What Really Matters in a Home Inspection
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Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, a checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this, combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself, makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies for various systems and components, and minor imperfections. These are useful to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
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major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure;
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things that lead to major defects, such as a small roof-flashing leak, for example;
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things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home; and
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safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electrical panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often, a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.
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by Nick Gromicko and Ben Gromicko