What Your Home Inspection Should Cover

 

Exterior/Structure:

§    Foundations (cracks or water seepage)

§    brick (cracking or mortar pulling away from bricks)

§    stucco (extensive cracking)

§    walls, siding and trim (dents or buckling, rot)

§    piers, pilings, beams, joists

§    windows/skylights/doors (loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weather-stripping)

§    chimneys/flashing

§    decks, patios, porches/decks (loose railings or steps, rot)

§    retaining walls & vegetation

§    driveways, steps and walks, slope and grades (cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains)

§    Garages (condition of door mechanism, floor condition—cracks, stains, etc.)

§    Septic Tanks (if applicable): Adequate absorption field capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the size of your family.

 

Roof/Attic:

§    Shingles or other roof coverings, rafters / trusses, sheathing, overhangs (conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts, moisture or mildew and overall age

§    Attic (adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof)

§    insulation (condition, adequate rating /R Value for climate)

§    ventilation

§    gutters and downspouts, etc. 

 

Interior:

§    flooring (unevenness, noticeably cracked tiles)

§    framing

§    crawl spaces (when safely accessible)

§    electrical (type of wiring, condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, circuit distribution, capacity, number of outlets in each room, grounding, panels, fixtures, entry cable, etc.)

§    heating and air conditioning  (type, age, capacity, energy rating, ductwork and distribution, registers and returns, temperature variance, controls, carbon monoxide testing, etc.)

§    plumbing (age, water pressure, size, pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicates leaks, insulation, fixtures, septic dye testing, well equipment, etc.)

§    water heating  (age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating)

§    visible well equipment

§    laundry facilities

§    kitchens/baths

§    fireplaces

§    ceilings, walls, doors and moldings (cracking, loose pieces, dry wall that is pulling away, water stains, doors that do not close properly)

 

 

** NOTE: Inspection for Termites and other Wood-Destroying Organisms is not included in a general home inspection.  WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET THIS SEPARATE INSPECTION DONE…ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A FRAME CONSTRUCTED HOME.