What Is A Home Inspection

Call the Doctor!

What are you really getting when you hire a home inspector? One way of looking at it is to compare a home inspection to a trip to your Primary Care Physician (PCP) for a checkup.  Think about it. You wouldn’t go to a cardiologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist, and pulmonologist for your annual checkup; that would be too expensive – and a nightmare to schedule!  The same is true for checking the condition of the home you’re considering.  Hiring an electrician, plumber, roofing contractor, insulation contractor, landscaper, and HVAC contractor would be great! But also, prohibitively expensive and time-consuming.

Instead, just like your PCP, an inspector can give your house an exam, of sorts, to see if everything is operating as expected.  They will look at every visible aspect of your home, searching for problems, potential problems, and safety concerns.  In a systematic evaluation of a house, the inspector will identify any issues, note the location of the defect(s), and make recommendations on who would be the most appropriate contractor (specialist) to address them.

During a home inspection, the inspector will typically start outside and work from the top to the bottom of the home and then move inside and do the same thing, efficiently working their way through a list of house systems. Some inspectors even make a habit of moving only clockwise or counterclockwise through the home so nothing gets missed. (Union Home Inspection is particular like that!)

What’s Inspected

The Roof

Roofing material, flashing, fascia, and gutter system are inspected.  Chimneys, vents, and skylights or other items that pass through the roof surface are inspected for proper flashing and boot installation.

The Exterior

All siding, masonry, trim, soffits, windows and doors, and the exterior foundation are all inspected for defects.  The overall structure is inspected for bowing, cracking, settling or other defects.  The house site is evaluated for proper negative slope away from the structure.

The Attic

Ventilation, insulation, structural components, and all visible system components are inspected.

The Interior

A representative number of electrical outlets and windows are checked for functionality.  Doors, walls, floors, ceilings, and lighting are inspected.

The Bathrooms

Outlets, lighting, plumbing, sinks, toilets, shower/tub, ventilation, and cabinetry are examined.

The Kitchen

Outlets, lighting, appliances, ventilation, plumbing, and cabinetry are checked for defects.

The Basement/Crawlspace

Structural components, visible system components, insulation and ventilation are inspected.

The Electrical System

Service entrance, meter, electrical panel, sub-panels, and visible branch circuits are inspected.

The HVAC

The heating and cooling systems are inspected.

The Plumbing

The water heater and all visible supply and drainage lines are inspected.

What Is Not Inspected (Available for Additional Cost)

You know your own body, but you still get a yearly check-up, just in case. Right? Are you considering buying a house you know nothing about without an inspection? No way! Let Union Home Inspection give that house a “checkup”. Contact us today!