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What we inspect

Exteriors

Exteriors

  • The exterior wall-covering materials, flashing and trim
  • All exterior doors
  • Adjacent walkways and driveways
  • Stairs, steps, stoops, stairways, and ramps
  • Porches, patios, decks, balconies, and carports
  • Railings, guards, and handrails
  • The eaves, soffits, and fascia
  • Windows
  • Vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls and grading of the property, where they may adversely affect the structure due to moisture intrusion

Roofing

  • The roof-covering materials
  • The gutters
  • The downspouts
  • The vents, flashing, skylights, and other roof penetrations
  • Chimney
  • The general structure of the roof from the readily accessible panels, doors, or stairs
  • I’ll walk the roof if allowable and weather permitting

Heating & Cooling

  • The heating system, using normal operating controls
  • The location of the thermostat for the heating system
  • The energy source
  • The heating method
  • The cooling system, using normal operating controls
  • The location of the thermostat for the cooling system

Kitchen & Appliances

  • Flooring
  • Cabinets & Countertops
  • Lighting
  • Sinks, faucets, plumbing
  • Electrical
  • All permanent appliances
plumbing

Plumbing

  • The main water supply shut-off valve
  • The water heating equipment, including the energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief (tpr) valves
  • Interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water
  • All toilets
  • All sinks, tubs, and showers for functional
  • The drain, waste, and vent system
  • Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.

 

 

electrical

Electrical

  • The Service drop
  • The overhead service conductors and attachment point
  • The service head, gooseneck and drip loops
  • The service mast, service conduit and raceway
  • The electric meter and base
  • Service-entrance conductors
  • The main service disconnect
  • Panelboards and over-current protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses)
  • Service grounding and bonding
  • All accessible switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles, including receptacles observed and deemed to be arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)-protected using the AFCI test button, where possible
  • All accessible ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacles (GFCIs) using a GFCI tester
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Attic, Insulation & Ventilation

  • Insulation in unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas
  • Ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas
  • Mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area
Garage

Garage

  • Door type & material
  • Door opener testing
  • Side/rear door condition
  • Walls, windows, ceilings
  • Separation wall
Doors, Windows & Interior

Doors, Windows & Interior

  • All accessible doors and windows by opening and closing them
  • Floors, walls, and ceilings
  • Stairs, landings, stairways, and ramps
  • Railings, guards, and handrails

Fireplace

  • Readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys
  • Lintels above the fireplace openings
  • Damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable
  • Clean-out doors and frames

Visual Inspection for Evidence of

  • Mold and Asbestos
  • Critters
  • Wood Destroying Organisms
    • Carpenter Ants
    • Carpenter Bees
    • Powder Post Beetles
    • Termites