What does a typical home inspection cover?
Buying a new home is an exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking adventure! A home inspection can help alleviate some of the stress associated with such a big purchase. When our inspectors arrive at your home they are ready to do a complete and thorough inspection.
They begin outside by looking at the roof structure. If the roof is a built-up painted roof (a flat roof) or a shingle roof the inspector will actually walk around the roof structure. Our inspectors do not walk on tile roofs to avoid causing damage to the tiles. If your home has a tile roof they will do a visual inspection from different vantage points to assess any damage or concerns that need attention. They will check the flashings and vent lines as well as the general condition of the roofing material. If the heating and/or cooling systems are located on the roof they will also do a visual inspection of these items to assess their condition and average lifespan.
After the roof structure they proceed to inspect the general condition of the exterior structure. At this time typical stucco cracking will be identified as well as any other areas that need attention. They will assess the exterior utilities such as the electrical box and connections and the gas and water connections.
As they move into the interior of the house they will check the operation of doors and windows to be sure they are in functional condition for safety. A sampling of the outlets in the home will be checked for function. Appliances that come with the home will also be turned on to verify that they are operational. As the inspectors go room by room they look for any areas that may need attention.
If the home has a pool and or spa these items are also checked, including the equipment. Garages and carports are checked. The inspectors verify the function of the water heater and the heating and cooling equipment.
Our thorough inspection takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for an average house of 1500 square feet. If your home is larger than that please plan on additional time. We encourage our home buyers to walk through the house with the inspector and ask any questions that may be on your mind. Our inspectors have extensive knowledge about homes that they love to share!