| A home inspection, because it is a visual inspection by | | | | here, exist the inspection is very limited in scope. |
| a trained professional, has a certain number of built in | | | | When the water is off, an inspector cannot look for |
| limitations. An inspector cannot see into walls. | | | | active leaks at sinks, tubs, toilets and other fixtures. |
| However, when the utilities at a home have been | | | | Furthermore, the inspector cannot test the |
| shutoff, such as water, gas and electricity, that | | | | positioning of hot and cold water taps (hot water to |
| imposes limitations on the inspection and that | | | | the left), nor can the water pressure or the |
| severely impedes the overall quality of the inspection. | | | | temperature of the hot water tank be evaluated. |
| A home inspection is, generally speaking, a visual | | | | When electricity is off, outlets, lights and most things |
| inspection of a home. An inspector is not able to look | | | | electrical (heaters, furnaces, electric water heaters, |
| under or between floors or inside walls. While this is a | | | | disposals, ranges, refrigerators) cannot be evaluated. |
| standard limitation to an inspection, there are other | | | | The inspector can look in the main electric panel, but |
| sometimes other limitations that are imposed by | | | | that is about all. It is possible that the inspector might |
| circumstances. These circumstances might lead to a | | | | be able to determine if there are any GFCI outlets or |
| less than ideal situation. For example, it is not | | | | see knob and tube or old two-prong systems. When |
| uncommon to find homes where the utilities are | | | | gas is off furnaces, and often water heaters, go |
| shutoff. This is frequently the situation at homes that | | | | without being performance tested, other than a few |
| are vacant. The seller might have had the home on | | | | visual checks. When these elements of the inspection |
| the market for some time and decided to save | | | | are excluded, it decreases the quality of the |
| money by disconnecting the utilities or, in cold | | | | inspection and the value to the client. |
| weather, the decision could have been made to | | | | If you work in real estate, and do not know this, |
| winterize the plumbing and have the main water | | | | home inspectors only operate normal controls. The |
| turned off. The likely scenario, and how it impacts | | | | inspector will not come in and start turning on the |
| the buyer, is that that person wants to buy the | | | | main water valve, the main breaker, the gas from |
| home and the inspection is scheduled to visit prior to | | | | the propane tank, etc. If these systems are |
| the systems being turned back on. This is problematic | | | | inoperable when the inspector arrives, they will |
| and it is best if the realtors involved evaluate this | | | | remain that way and not be evaluated. The reason: |
| situation and try to get utilities turned back on prior | | | | The inspector does not want to be responsible if |
| to the inspection. Needless to say if, when the | | | | turning on the main water leads to a ruptured pipe in |
| inspector arrives, there is no electricity, no fuel (gas, | | | | the house, or if flipping the main breaker leads to a |
| propane, heating oil) and or no water, the inspection | | | | fire or electrical short. When main controls are turned |
| is very limited. Sometimes a few utilities are hooked | | | | off, it sometimes means there is a more serious |
| up, but other key utilities are not. Whenever any | | | | problem in the home and an inspector cannot take |
| combination of circumstances, such as described | | | | the risk of finding out. |