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My Typical Home Inspection For Fayetteville, NC

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Home Inspector with Carolina's Best Home Inspections 1051

Home Inspection, Fayettevile, North Carolina

What to expect when you get a home inspection

In 1996 North Carolina became the second state to implement licensing of home inspectors.  As a result when you call for a home inspection, your home inspector, to be legal, will hold a license granted by the state of North Carolina. Your home inspection is to be performed according to the laws that the state of North Carolina has legislated. You may obtain a copy of those laws by contacting the North Carolina State Licensure Board.

I don't know what to tell you to expect when your inspector arrives for your inspection, because I don't know who is going to be performing that inspection. But I can tell you what to expect if Carolina's Best Home Inspections does your inspection.

First of all, the state of North Carolina requires that the inspector have a signed agreement before performing the inspection. I like to get that agreement to the client as early as possible before the inspection. This gives you time to read it and digest it before you sign it. The intent of the legislators is that you know what to expect in your inspection, what is included and what is not included in a standard inspection. The agreement is usually emailed to the client and the client returns the signed agreement by email, fax, via realtor, mail, or personal delivery at the site before the inspection begins.

Once the agreement is signed the inspection can begin. I like to start at the front of the house. I look at the grade to see how the land slopes and if there is water running toward the house. I look at the driveway, the water meter, and sidewalks. Then I look at the front of the house, the foundation, siding, soffit , fascia, gutters, and roof. I begin to circle the house in a clockwise motion, continuing to observe in the same way. I always carry a digital camera and I take lots of pictures. I take pictures of defects but I also take pictures of things I want to remember. I will not begin to fill out the report until I get back to my office so I want lots of pictures in case I need to remember something while writing. 

I take pictures of the location of the gas meter if there is one, of the electrical service entrance cable and the electrical meter. I shoot the heat pump compressor, steps, decks, rails, porches, sheds, and anything at all that will help me keep a clear picture of the house in my mind later. I walk completely around the house this way. Then I do it again. I look for defects of any kind. I take pictures of them. After I have circled the house again I go inside. If it is early morning I like to go into the attic first, before it gets too hot up there. If I can get into the attic and get around I get up there. I take my flashlight and camera and look all around. I shoot the rafters, roof sheathing, the ceiling joists, and insulation. I look at the attic ventilation, and look for signs of roof leaks around the chimney and other roof penetrations. I look to see if there are open electrical wire splices, if the vent fans are vented to the outside. If there is an air handler in the attic I examine the condensate line and pan. When I think I have looked at everything I need to look at I look again, all the while taking pictures.

Next I go to the front door and ring the door bell to see if it works. I then close the door and look at the seal around the door. I test the door lock and the front porch light. Then I begin to move through the house in a clockwise motion, room by room. When I enter a room I test all the electrical outlets to see if they work and if they are properly grounded. I examine the air conditioning registers to see if they are there and if they are working. I examine the air return filters for size, kind, and condition. I test the windows to see if they open, and the doors to see if they latch. I observe the ceiling, floors and walls for signs of leaks, settling, or other problems. In the bathrooms I check the plumbing fixtures to see if they leak and operate correctly. I check the fan, lights, flooring, GFCI receptacles, and anything else.

In the kitchen I check all the appliances that it is possible to check. If there are dishes in the dishwasher I may not run it. If there is a turkey in the oven I won't change the setting. I just write that I didn't check it because of the turkey.  I test all cabinet doors and drawers. I look at the countertop, the dishwasher connection, lighting, GFCI outlets, and so on.

After I have inspected the inside of the house I go back outside, get my ladder and if the roof is not too steep and dangerous I get on the roof. I walk the roof looking for problems and taking pictures. I look at the roof flashing, the chimney, plumbing vents, skylights, gutters, shingles, and anything else there is to look at.

Next is the crawlspace. I put on my coveralls, take my flashlight and camera and crawl. I take lots of pictures. Crawlspaces are dirty places. It is my least favorite part of the job, but I do it. It is in the crawlspace that you will likely find more problems than anywhere else in the home inspection. This is true because while people may keep their living room and dining room immaculate and in pristine condition, they seldom if ever go into the dark recesses of the crawlspace. Sometimes snakes are there. Spiders are common there. Crickets, toads, lizards, fleas, and other critters live there. I crawl from one end to the other. I am looking for damage to the framing and foundation. I am looking for insulation. One reason I saved the crawlspace for last is because now that I have run all the plumbing fixtures in the house and drained them I will see any signs of leaks as I crawl around. I want to see where the main plumbing line comes into the house. I want to see where the waste line exits the house. I want to see if the air handler is leaking condensation into the crawlspace. I want to see if the ground is damp around the perimeter of the crawlspace. I take one last look, thank God if there wasn't a confrontation with a copperhead or black widow, and get back into the sunlight.

Off come the coveralls and now, if the client is present, I report on my findings. Then it is off to the office to write the report. This will take me longer than anyone imagines, because I load a lot of the photos into my home inspection report to make my report clear. I fill in all the blanks on my computer generated report and my software will remind me if I forget something.   When I am finally done writing the report I email the client and attach the report as a pdf. If they want I can send them a hard copy of the home inspection report as well. I tell you in my email to contact me with any questions.  Now, unless I have left something unclear in my report, I am finished with another home inspection, and I have tried my best to deliver another of "Carolina's Best Home Inspections".

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CIA Home Inspection
CIA Home Inspection Service Home Inspector San Bernardino - Los Angeles, CA

A lot of good stuff in this post. Thanks for taking the time to put it out there for us to read.

Sep 19, 2009 05:09 AM