| Although architectural details, wall and
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| | systems of the home.ROOFIs the ridge
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| floor coverings, modern conveniences and
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| | (peak) showing a sag, or is it straight
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| many other factors are important in the
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| | and level?Is the roof sagging between the
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| buying decision, the focus of this
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| | rafters or trusses?Are there any signs of
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| inspection is on the structural
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| | deterioration of asphalt shingles, such
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| mechanical/electrical condition of the
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| | as curling, wasping, broken edges,
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| property.The inspection is designed to
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| | rounded corners or key holes (slits)
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| give the real estate agent or prospective
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| | becoming wider that normal?Any loose
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| purchaser a system to detect some of the
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| | flashings, at the chimney, roof-to-wall
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| readily accessible major flaws or
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| | connection or elsewhere?
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| deficiencies in the significant
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| | Does the wooden roof deck appear rotten
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| components and systems of a home. It is
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| | or delaminated under the last row of
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| not designed to, nor does it profess to
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| | shingles?Are there any roof vents
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| facilitate detection of all flaws,
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| | visible?CHIMNEYSIs the masonry cap
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| problems or occurrences that might exist
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| | cracked or broken?
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| in any given home.To maximize time
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| | Are any bricks flaking or missing?
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| efficiency and to ensure all of the major
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| | Mortar missing?
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| sections of the home are take into
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| | Is the chimney leaning?SOFFITS AND
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| consideration, we have developed a
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| | FASCIANote whether the soffit and fascia
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| systematized approach to the inspection.
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| | are wood, aluminum or plastic
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| This is a simplified overview of systems
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| | Any loose or missing sections?If wood,
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| that professional home inspectors use
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| | are there any paint problems? Any
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| when they are inspecting a home.To assist
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| | visible rot?GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTSEnsure
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| you in following the system, we have
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| | gutters slope down toward downspouts
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| provided a checklist that will guide you
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| | Any rust or peeling paint?Apparent leaks
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| through your own inspection.THE
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| | or loose/sagging sections?Are the
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| INSPECTION SYSTEMTHE BIG PICTUREThe first
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| | downspouts extended away from the
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| step in inspecting a home is to examine
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| | foundations?WALL COVERINGSLook for
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| the big picture for the home. Notice the
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| | missing mortarAre the bricks flaking or
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| area the home is located in. Are there
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| | cracking?Look for loose, missing or
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| other homes of similar age and
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| | rotten siding, deteriorated paint.Does
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| construction details relative to the home
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| | the siding appear new? Does it hide the
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| you are inspecting? A comparison will
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| | foundation wall?Exterior walls bowed,
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| give you a general idea of the upkeep of
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| | bulged or leaning?WINDOWS AND DOORSLook
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| the home. Have there been significant
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| | for problems with paint or caulking, and
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| modifications to the exterior of the
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| | rotted wood components.
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| building and if so, how is the
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| | Are the windows new or older? Are they
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| workmanship?EXTERIORStart at the exterior
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| | the original windows?How old are
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| front of the house and work your way
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| | they?PORCHES AND DECKSCracking or flaking
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| around the house (clockwise or
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| | masonry?Check for paint problems, rotted
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| counter-clockwise) at a distance which
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| | wood, and wood-earth contact.Note any
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| allows you to view a complete face
| |
| | settlement or separation from the
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| comfortably. On each face (front, sides,
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| | house.Inspect the underside, if
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| rear) start your visual inspection at the
| |
| | accessible.FOUNDATIONSCheck for cracks,
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| top of the structure and work your way
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| | flaking or damaged masonry.Note any water
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| down to the ground and lot area. As an
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| | markings and effluorescence (whitish,
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| example, you would start at the front and
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| | chalky substance)
|
| note the roof and chimneys, the gutters,
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| | Any bowing, buldging or other
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| fascia and soffits. Then, moving down
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| | irregularities?Soft mortar?LOT AREADoes
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| the exterior wall coverings (brick, wood,
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| | the grade slope away from the house?Any
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| aluminum), noting windows, doors, etc.
| |
| | settled/low areas next to the foundation,
|
| Examine any porches or decks down to the
| |
| | or cracked walks/driveway?
|
| foundation, then the grade or slope of
| |
| | Is the property lower than the street or
|
| the lot area, followed by any coverings,
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| | neighboring properties?BASEMENTNote any
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| such as flower beds, walkways,
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| | evidence of water penetration (stains,
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| interlocking brick, driveways, etc.
| |
| | mildew/odors, effluorescence, loose tiles
|
| Move closer to the house, to examine more
| |
| | etc.)FLOORSCheck for deteriorated
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| closely any details which may have
| |
| | coverings or cracked ceramics.
|
| attracted your attention, without
| |
| | Any water staining or other damage?
|
| skipping any items. Having completed the
| |
| | Sloping or sagging?WALLSRandomly sample
|
| front, move to the side of the house and
| |
| | to check that the windows and doors work.
|
| start the same procedure (roof to
| |
| | Are the walls straight vertically and
|
| ground).INTERIOROn the interior, begin
| |
| | horizontally?
|
| your inspection in the basement and then
| |
| | Look for cracked or loose plaster.
|
| follow the system throughout each floor
| |
| | Look for stains, physical damage or
|
| in the house. The system for inspecting
| |
| | previous repair evidence.
|
| the interior is to begin with the floor,
| |
| | Any drywall seams or nails
|
| go to the walls and then the ceiling, and
| |
| | showing?CEILINGSCheck for cracks in the
|
| then consider any appliances or other
| |
| | plaster or loose, sagging plaster.
|
| items in the room. Move from room to
| |
| | Look for stains, mechanical damage or
|
| room, always in the same direction
| |
| | evidence of previous repair.
|
| (clockwise or counter-clockwise) so as to
| |
| | Seams or nails showing?BATHROOMS AND
|
| not miss any areas. If you see a door,
| |
| | KITCHENSCheck that all fixtures are
|
| open it!In the utility room in the
| |
| | secure.
|
| basement, first notice the floor, the
| |
| | Are there any cracks in the fixtures?
|
| walls (possibly the foundation walls are
| |
| | Note the conditon of the tiles and
|
| visible here), then the ceiling (floor
| |
| | caulking in the tub/shower area.
|
| joists may be visible), then go to the
| |
| | Are the faucets working? Do they leak?
|
| furnace, hot water heater, electrical
| |
| | Sufficient water pressure?
|
| panel, plumbing system, etc. When
| |
| | Look for staining and rot under the
|
| inspecting the floors, walls and
| |
| | counter-tops
|
| ceilings, scan the entire area that is
| |
| | Randomly sample the operation of the
|
| visible, not just one section.In a
| |
| | cabinet doors and
|
| finished room you would notice the
| |
| | drawers.ELECTRO-MECHANICAL
|
| floors, walls (including windows) and
| |
| | CONSIDERATIONSType, style and age of
|
| ceiling. Next look for the heat sources,
| |
| | heating & cooling systems. When were
|
| electrical outlets and switches,
| |
| | they last inspected or serviced?
|
| fireplaces, closets etc. In bathroom or
| |
| | Type of water supply piping and drains -
|
| kitchen, notice the floor, walls and
| |
| | any visible rust and corrosion?
|
| ceiling, then the plumbing
| |
| | Size and age of electical service - are
|
| fixtures.CONDITIONWhile performing the
| |
| | the outlets grounded? Visible wiring in
|
| inspection, whether at the exterior, the
| |
| | good condtion?
|
| interior or one of the mechanical
| |
| | Have there been any upgrades?Vist our
|
| systems, note the system first, then its
| |
| | website for a printable Pre-Inspection
|
| relative condition. For example, if you
| |
| | ChecklistArticle submitted by the
|
| were inspecting a wall on the interior of
| |
| | American Home Inspector DirectoryAmerican
|
| the home you would first note that the
| |
| | Home Inspector Directory - Home
|
| wall is plaster, and then examine the
| |
| | Inspectors NationwideNational Directory
|
| wall for cracks and
| |
| | of Home Inspectors. Search our database
|
| irregularities.PROBLEMSThe following are
| |
| | of Home Inspectors Free - Information on
|
| some typical problems or occurrences to
| |
| | Home Inspections, Home Loans and Home
|
| look for in the major components and
| |
| | Inspection Organizations.
|
