WHAT'S INSPECTED

Roof

Roofs are designed to protect the building from weather, support some mechanical equipment for the house and provide an architectural statement. There are many types of roofing materials, many different types of slopes and shapes, and roofs have requirements for carrying load such as the weight of snow. Any issues here could lead to damage of the house structure and interior. Provided that there are no possible safety issues or no reason to believe the roof could be damaged, the roof will be accessed and examined as closely as possible.

Electrical

The electrical system of a house provides the home owner with much needed power to operate the utilities providing for basic needs; for example heating, cooling, lighting and power for cooking. Because of the nature of electricity it is extremely important to place safety first for the home owner and any visitors to the home. Understanding the importance of the many functions and recognizing any adverse conditions is the goal of the inspection. The systems that will be inspected are:

• The electrical entrance into the house

• The grounding system

• The electrical service box

• Any distribution panels

• The branch circuit wiring

• Lights, outlets, switches and junction boxes.

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Basement & Foundation

The home structure includes the footings and foundations of the house as well as the columns, beams, rafters and interior wall structures. As you can expect, many of these items or much of each of these items are enclosed within walls and ceilings as well as floors. So the inspection will be looking for clues such as cracks, deterioration due to moisture, and other visual effects to evaluate the homes performance. The most important aspect of the structure is to safely support the loads of the house itself and the loads from furniture, people and weather.

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Heating & Cooling

Heating

Heating systems are categorized by either their fuel or their distribution method. Common components of all heat distribution systems are: a fuel source, a delivery system, monitoring and control devices for both safety and for temperature sensing, a heat exchanger, and some type of duct or plumbing work. Differences between heating systems include the storage and type of fuel, the delivery of the fuel, and the delivery of the heat. The heating system is evaluated to make sure it is operating safely, and will provide an adequate heating method to make the home comfortable.

Cooling

Air conditioning in this part of the country is considered a luxury rather than an essential system of the house. However, the home inspection includes a look at air cooled central air conditioners that are considered permanently installed. The capacity of the air conditioning unit is critical to its function and whether or not it is providing the proper home comfort. The unit will be inspected to make sure it is in good operating condition as well as confirm its capacity.

Interiors

With respect to the interior of the home, the inspection will be focused on the function and not the appearance of the house. The emphasis is placed on whether or not the rooms will work as intended. The major components that will be evaluated are the:

• Walls, ceilings, and floors

• Trim, counters and cabinets

• Stairs and railings

• Windows, skylights and solariums

• Doors

• Electrical outlets and switches

• Sufficient room heating

• Basement and crawlspace

• Smoke detection and Carbon Monoxide detection units.

Plumbing

Plumbing includes the service lines to the house, the supply lines within the house, and drain lines that remove the waste water from the house. Additionally, there are sinks, tubs, toilets and fixtures that provide specific purpose for the water in given areas within the house. The inspection will include the accessible mentioned items as well as the evaluation of faucets and shut offs, water pressure, water heating, whether or not there is any leaking, and rust or corrosion.