What is Examined During a Home Inspection
A home inspection is one of the most common things that a buyer will require before proceeding with the purchase of a new home. If you’ve never bought or sold a home before, you may be curious about what a home inspector checks during their examination of the structure and systems of a home at S.P.T. Home Inspections, our highly-trained, certified, and insured home inspectors will examine the following points to give you peace of mind about your purchase.
Roofing
Our inspector will carefully check the roof for any missing, loose, or damaged shingles or tiles. The gutter and downspouts are checked to ensure that water properly runs off the roof and away from home. Any skylights and chimneys are checked to ensure they have a proper seal against the elements.
Grounds & Fencing
You may be thinking an inspector will be spending all their time looking at the house itself, but our inspector will also check out the grounds. We’ll check for proper signs of drainage from the house as well as septic tank leakage. Any driveway, walkway, or fencing condition will also be noted for the home inspector’s report that we’ll prepare.
Exterior Wall Coverings
One of our trained inspectors will note the exterior wall coverings’ material and condition, flashing, and trim. While inspecting the exterior, we’ll also examine any decks, balconies, or porches and assess their condition.
Heating
Our inspector will check the furnace, boiler, or other types of heating systems in the home. This will typically be turned on near the beginning of an inspection, so it can run during the rest of the inspection to reveal any issues after it’s been running for a while.
Attic
Our inspector will examine the attic for any moisture or water damage, which may sign a leak or other problem with the roof. We’ll also check the holes through which electrical or plumbing lines pass. Insulation will be checked to ensure it’s in good shape and doing its job.
Basement and Crawl Space
We’ll check the basement for any signs of cracks in the walls or flooring and water damage since this is the lowest room in any house, and this is where any water leakage will tend to accumulate. In the crawl space of a house, we’ll check the floor framing condition and look for moisture or mold. Our inspector will check any plumbing, HVAC ducts, and electrical wiring under the house.
Built-in Appliances
All utilities need to be connected during an inspection because our inspector will be turning on and running all major appliances during the inspection. This helps ensure that there’s no problem with their electrical connections and that any appliances that use water, such as a washer or dishwasher, do not leak.
Cooling
If the home has a central air conditioning system, this will be turned on and checked. Our inspector will make sure the air is blowing out all the vents throughout the house without obstruction. We’ll check that it’s operating efficiently and that it has the proper filter.
Electrical
Our home inspector will check the home’s electrical system to ensure there’s nothing faulty or unsafe and that it functions properly. This will include testing the electrical outlets throughout the home and turning on all lights and light fixtures.
Plumbing
We’ll run all sink, shower, and tub faucets to ensure fixtures operate correctly and that the water is flowing normally and draining out as it should. All drains will be checked for any signs of leakage, and if the home has a sump pump, that will be checked for proper operation. Our highly-trained, certified, and the insured inspector will also check the pipes themselves where easy access makes this possible.
Doors & Windows
The condition and normal operation of doors and windows are critical to your enjoyment of a new home, so one of our home inspectors will check all of them throughout the house. Any windows or doors that need repair or replacement will be noted in our detailed home inspection report.
Ceiling & Walls
The walls and ceiling in each room need to appear straight and level if there’s no problem with the home structure. We’ll also check the walls, floors, and ceilings’ overall condition as we go throughout the home.
Structure
The overall structural condition of the home is important to assess. Our inspector will look at the construction of the foundation and check for any evidence of sagging or bowing of the home structure.
