You're Invited To The Home Inspection

One picture is worth a thousand words and, even though our written home inspection reports are very comprehensive, it is a good idea to attend the inspection of your home to obtain first hand information from the engineer who is assigned to your home inspection; a typical home inspection will take about two hours.

Ask Questions

Home buyers are encouraged to ask questions, during the home inspection and, at the conclusion of the inspection. The home inspection also provides a unique opportunity for you to learn about the house and its systems.

Here’s Where The Tour Is Headed

At the conclusion of the home inspection, the home buyer should know the condition of the home. If anything is wrong, the home buyer should know what needs to be done to correct the problems, what repair alternatives are available, what priorities to assign to the problems to reduce repair costs, which repair costs are significant, which repair costs are minor, which costs are nonessential improvements, although it is not always possible, where feasible, the home inspector should try to determine whether or not there are any risks of concealed damage, and whether further investigation is recommended. We will tell you everything you need to know including tips to maintain your home.

Let’s Get Started On The Outside

First we’ll walk around the exterior of the home to get oriented. There’s nothing more important than the structural integrity of the home and the home inspector should look for unusual structural distress or deflections in the exterior framing of the roof and exterior facades which could signal a serious problem. The structural integrity of the home is of primary importance and therefore all of our home inspections are conducted by Licensed Professional Engineers (look for Professional Engineer’s P.E. seal on your home inspection report).

How Does The Roof Look

Where safe and feasible, the home inspector will  walk upon  the roof to get a close look at the roof surface, the roof flashings, chimney, skylights, etc. Walking upon the roof provides additional information about the structural integrity of the roof structure. When it is not safe and feasible for the home inspector to walk upon the roof, a closer look on a ladder provides information; sometimes, the home inspector will use binoculars for a further examination. While inspecting the roof, the home inspector will look for areas that are susceptible to water intrusion and will be sure to check those areas carefully during the interior home inspection.

Let’s Get A Closer Look At The Exterior Of The Home

A closer inspection around the outside is next. The home inspector will examine the exterior facades, foundation walls, doors, windows, decks, patios, porches, driveways, sidewalks, and walkways; the home inspector will look for do it yourself decks, etc. that have deficiencies. Proper land grading around the house, and proper disposal of roof rain water is important to keep excess water away from the foundations.

It’s Time To Go Inside The Home

On the inside of the home, the home inspector will start on the top floor and inspect the ceilings, walls, floors,  doors, and windows looking for quality and condition, and any unusual conditions that could be a tell tale sign of a structural defect, as well as signs of water intrusion.

The Attic Inspection

The home inspector will inspect all areas of the attic that are readily accessible for evidence of structural defects, wood destroying insects, adequacy of insulation and ventilation, evidence of water intrusion, as well as any plumbing, electrical, heating, or air-conditioning problems. You would be surprised to find out what surprises may be found in the attic.

The Basement Inspection

The home inspector will inspect all readily accessible areas of the basement and basement crawl space including the condition of the foundation walls, and framing as visible. The home inspector will look for defects in the structure caused by under design, improper alteration, wood destroying insects, and water. Although no foundation wall cracks are desirable, the licensed engineer can make a determination if the problem is a serious concern. The home inspector will look for evidence of water intrusion into the basement, as well as any remedial systems that have been installed to control water intrusion problems.

Structural Structural Structural

Location, location, location, you’ve heard that often enough when looking for a home. Once you find a home, the most important aspect of the home inspection is structural, structural, structural. That’s why you need a Licensed Professional Engineer to assess the data collected during the physical home inspection; the P.E. will call upon all of the engineer’s education, knowledge, and home inspection experience to make a judgment regarding the structural health of the home and whether any remedial repairs are required, and if so, what needs to be done to correct the problem. Only a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) can design a repair for a structural defect, home buyers who do not retain the services of a P.E. to conduct their home inspection may pay a second fee to retain the services of a P.E. for Professional Engineering advice regarding structural defects.

The Tour Continues Here

Click On Over To Tour The Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, And Air-conditioning Inspection