
What We Inspect... What to Expect
Roof
The Inspector shall inspect from the ground level or eaves:
- The roof covering
- The gutters
- The downspouts
- The vents, flashings, skylights, chimney, and other roof penetrations, and the general structure of the roof from the readily accessible panels, doors, and stairs
Exterior
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The siding, flashing, and trim
- All exterior doors, decks, stoops, steps, stairs, porches, railings, eaves, soffits, and fascias
- And report in need of repair any spacing between intermediate balusters, spindles or rails for steps, stairways, balconies, and railings that permit the passage of an object greater than 4 inches in diameter
- A representative number of windows
- The vegetation, surface drainage, and retaining walls when these are likely to adversely affect the structure
- And describe the wall covering
Basement, Foundation, and Crawl Space
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The basement
- The foundation
- The crawlspace
- The visible structural components
- And report on the location of under-floor access openings
- And report any present conditions or clear indications of active water penetration observed by the inspector
- For wood in contact or near soil
- And report any general indications of foundation movement that are observed by the inspector, such as, but not limited to, sheet-rock cracks, brick cracks, out of square door frames, or floor slopes
- And report on any cutting, notching, and boring of any framing members which may present a structural or safety concern
Heating / Cooling
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The heating systems using normal operating controls, and describe the energy source and heating method
- And report in need of repair heating systems which do not operate
- And report if the heating systems are deemed inaccessible
- The Central Cooling Equipment using normal operating controls
Plumbing
The Inspector shall inspect:
- Inspect and determine if the water supply is public or private
- Verify the presence of and identify the location of the main water shut-off valve
- Inspect the water heating equipment including venting, connections, energy source supply system, and seismic bracing, and verify the presence or absence of temperature pressure-relief valves and/or Watts 210 valves
- Flush toilets
- Water-test sinks, tubs, and showers for functional drainage
- Inspect the interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets
- Inspect the drain, waste and vent system including all fixtures
- Describe and inspect fuel storage systems
- Inspect the drainage sump pumps with accessible floats
- Inspect and describe the water supply, drain, waste and main fuel shut-off valves, as well as the location of the water main and main fuel shut-off valves
- Inspect and report as in need of repair deficiencies in the water supply by viewing the functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously
- Inspect and report in need of repair deficiencies in installation and identification of hot and cold faucets
- Inspect and report as in need of repair maechanical drain-stops that are missing or do not operate if installed in sinks, lavatories, and tubs
- Inspect and report as in need of repair commodes that have cracks in the ceramic material, that are improperly mounted to the floor, leak or have tank components which do not operate
Electrical
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The service drop/lateral
- The meter socket enclosures
- The means of disconnecting the service main
- And describe the service disconnect amperage rating, if labeled
- Panelboards and overcurrent devices, (fuses and breakers)
- And report on any unused circuit breaker panel openings that are not filled
- The service grounding and bonding
- A representative number of switches, lighting fixtures, and receptacles, including receptacles observed and deemed to be
- AFCI- protected during the inspection using an AFCI tester, where possible
- And test all Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles and
- GFCI circuit breakers observed and deemed to be GFCI during the inspection using a GFCI tester, where possible
- And report the presence of solid conductor aluminum branch circuit wiring, if readily visible
- And report on any tested receptacles in which power was not present, polarity is in correct, is not secured to the wall, the cover is not in place, the ground fault circuit interrupter devices are not properly installed, or do not operate properly, evidence of arcing or excessive heat is present, or where the receptacle is not grounded or is not secured to the wall
- And report the absence of smoke detectors and service entrance cables
- And report as in need of repair deficiencies in the integrity of the insulation, drip loop, or seperation of conductors at weatherheads and clearances from grade or rooftops
Fireplace
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The fireplace, and open and close the damper door, if readily accessible and operable
- Hearth extensions and other permanently installed compontents
- And report as in need of repair deficiencies in the lintel, hearth and material surrounding the fireplace, including fireplace opening clearance from visible combustible materials
Attic, Ventilation and Insulation
The Inspector shall inspect:
- The insulation in unfinished spaces
- The ventilation of attic spaces
- Mechanical ventilation systems
- And report on the general absence or lack of insulation in unfinished spaces
Doors, Windows, and Interior
The Inspector shall inspect:
- Open and close a representative number of doors and windows
- Inspect the walls, ceilings, steps, stairways and railings
- And report as in need of repair any spacing between intermediate balusters, spindles or rails for steps, stairways and railings that permit the passage of an object greater than 4 inches in diameter
- Inspect garage doors and garage door openers by operating first by remote (if available), and then by the installed automatic door control
- And report as in need of repair any installed electronic sensors that are not operable or not installed at proper heights above the garage door
- And report as in need of repair any door locks or side ropes that have not been removed or disabled when garage door is in use
- And report as in need of repair any windows that are obviously fogged or display other evidence of broken seals
Click Here to download the complete: What_We_Inspect_Workbook.pdf
