4What do home inspectors look for?  It’s a a question that we get asked often, and the short answer is simply this;  a home inspector looks at all systems of a house, and reveals any current or potential future problems.    

Even brand new homes are not perfect, so we check off what looks good, and take notes on what doesn’t.  Our reports are helpful for both sellers and buyers.  The seller will understand what repairs are needed, and can decide what to repair before selling, or what price adjustments need to be made for a potential buyer.  The inspection report will help a buyer decide if he/she wants to move forward with the home purchase, or to negotiate the sale price of the house.

The purpose of this blog post is not to provide a complete exhaustive list what we do, but a more comprehensive answer than the basic one listed above.

Outside The Home
The home inspection usually starts on the property grounds, we’ll look for things like standing water, proper drainage, landscaping, fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls.  We will look at driveways, sidewalks, patios, downspouts.

The Home Exterior
Next, well look at the home exterior which includes soffit, fascia, and any rot, cracks, water damage, or other siding failures. We’ll look at the paint, windows, windows screens, and drip caps. The roof is usually next on the list, and we look for any cupping, curling, broken or damaged shingles. We look for any problems with flashings, venting, gutters, and chimneys.

The Home Interior
Once inside, it’s usually the attic and crawl spaces that come first. We look for moisture, mold, stains, decay, damage, ventilation, and for any plumbing or electrical issues.

Then we’ll inspect each interior room of the home. We look at the floors, ceilings, walls, doors, trim, paint, electrical outlets, switches, light fixtures, and HVAC systems. The kitchen and bathrooms have additional areas that need to be inspected such as appliances, GFCI outlets, exhaust fans, drains, leaks, water flow, rust, and cabinet doors and drawers.

In the bathroom we check toilets, sinks, tubs, to ensure proper water flow and adequate draining. We look at caulking, tiles, and any evidence of water damage.

Important Systems
We’ll check all the main mechanical and electrical systems of the home. We check fire detectors, for gas leaks, garage doors, garage door openers, water heater, electrical panel, electrical cables, furnace, AC unit, and duct-work.

At Five Star Home Inspections, we compile all this information, and more, into a 25-30 page report with color photo documentation. We’ll have the full report available to you within 24-48 hours after the inspection, and make if available for download online.

Our inspections include one free follow up inspection if requested, to ensure repairs have been made, and important issues have been property addressed. If you have any questions about what we look for when performing a home inspection, or if you would like to schedule an inspection, please call 208.407.7704