When buying a home, you should always have a professional home inspection performed. You need to know exactly what you are getting. The professional home inspection will reveal problems with the home so that they may be addressed before you close the deal, making your buying decision much easier and more confident.

When we inspect the home we will look at the systems that make up the building such as:

Structural elements, foundation, framing ect…

Plumbing systems

Roofing

Heating & Cooling Systems

Electrical systems

Cosmetic condition, paint, siding etc…

The inspection report will tell you what needs to be repaired and what routine maintenance tasks you should perform to keep the house in top condition.

You should require an inspection at the time you make a formal offer. Make sure the contract has an inspection contingency of ten or more business days. Then, contact us to make an appointment so we can inspect the house. Pay close attention to the inspection report. If you are not comfortable with what we find, you should negotiate with the seller to correct the problems before closing or negotiate for the potential repair costs related to the deficiency.

The professional home inspection will reduce the risk of costly surprises with what is likely to be the largest purchase you will ever make. It helps you to make a more informed, more comfortable decision.

Common Defects

No house is perfect. Even the best built and best maintained homes will always have a few items in less than perfect condition. Below are some of the items we most commonly find when inspecting a home:

Roofing Problems – with roofing material are the single most common defect we find. Usually it doesn’t mean the roof needs replaced, simply that it is in need of maintenance or repair.

Ceiling stains – Caused by past or present leaks, ceiling stains are very common. It can be difficult to tell whether the stains are from leaks still present, or were caused by leaks which have since been repaired.

Electrical hazards – Most common in older homes, but often found in newer homes as well. Electrical hazards come in many forms, from ungrounded outlets to wiring done incorrectly by the homeowner.

Rotted wood – Caused by being wet for extended periods of time, most commonly found around tubs, showers and toilets inside, or roof eaves and trim outside.

Water heater installations – Many water heaters are not installed in full compliance with local plumbing code.

Gas furnace – Most gas furnaces seem to be in need of routine maintenance such as new filters or gas company certification at the least. Many have other issues such as faulty operation or inadequate fire clearance as well.

Plumbing defects – Plumbing issues commonly found include dripping faucets, leaking fixtures, slow drains etc… Even in brand new homes, it is common to identify minor plumbing defects.