Single Family Home Inspection

Advanced Inspection | Single Family Home Inspection 507-721-0922

Having an offer accepted on your dream house may seem like cause for celebration, but you’re not done just yet. You’ll need to get that home and its property inspected before you can pop the bubbly, and there are plenty of problems that could be hiding. This isn’t about peeling paint, which will be both obvious and pretty easy to fix, but about bigger ticket items that can affect the livability of the property.

The certified inspector will conduct a visual inspection on all areas of the home including:

Grounds

1. Proper grading drainage away from house
2. No evidence of standing water
3. No leaks from septic tank or leech field
4. Yard, landscaping, trees and walkways in good condition
5. No branches or bushes touching house or overhanging the roof
6. Exterior structures (fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in
7. good condition, no evidence of termite damage or rotted wood
8. Railings on stairs and decks are adequate and secure
9. Driveways, sidewalks, patios, entrance landings in good condition, and pitched
   away from structure
10. Downspout drainage directed away from structure

Structure

1. Ridge and fascia board lines appear straight and level
2. Sides of house appear straight, not bowed or sagging
3. Window and doorframes appear square (especially bowed windows)
4. Visible foundation in good condition – appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks

Exterior Structure

1. Adequate clearance between ground and wood siding materials (6″ minimum); no
2. wood-to-earth contact
3. Siding: no cracking, curling, loose, rot or decay
4. Masonry veneers: no cracks in joints, no broken, spalling or flaking components
5. Stucco: no large cracks (discuss all stucco cracks with a professional inspector)
6. Vinyl or aluminum siding: no dents, damage, no bowing or loose siding
7. No vines on surface of structure
8. Exterior paint or stain: no flaking or blisters
9. No stains on exterior surfaces

Windows, Doors and Wood Trim

1. Wood frames and trim pieces are secure, no cracks, rot or decay
2. Joints around frames are caulked
3. No broken glass (window or storm panes) or damaged screens, no broken doublepaned, insulated window seals.
4. Muntin and mullion glazing compound in good condition
5. Storm windows or thermal glass used
6. Drip caps installed over windows

Roof

1. Composition shingles: no curling, no cupping, no loss of granulation particulate,
   no broken, damaged or missing shingles, no more than two layers of roofing
2. Wood shingles or shakes: no mold, rot or decay, no cracked/broken/missing
   shingles, no curling
3. Flat roofs: no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters/”alligatoring”
   and wrinkles, no silt deposits (indicates improper drainage), sealed tar at flashings
4. Flashing around roof penetrations
5. No evidence of excess roofing cement/tar/caulk
6. Soffits and fascia: no decay, no stains
7. Exterior venting for eave areas: vents are clean and not painted over
8. Gutters: no decay or rust, joints sealed, attached securely to structure, no bending
   or sagging, no sections of gutter or downspout missing, gutters clean, no mud deposits
9. Chimneys: straight, properly flashed, no evidence of damaged bricks or cracked
   joints, mortar/cement cap in good condition

Attic

1. No stains on underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations
2. No evidence of decay or damage to structure
3. Sufficient insulation and properly installed insulation (moisture barrier installed
   closest to the heated area of the house)
4. Adequate ventilation, clear path into attic for air entering through soffit vents, adequately sized gable end louvers, all mechanical ventilation operational
5. No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in attic
6. No open electrical splices

Interior

1. Floors, walls and ceilings appear straight and plumb and level
2. No stains on floors, walls or ceilings
3. Flooring materials in good condition
4. No significant cracks in walls or ceilings
5. Windows and exterior doors operate easily and latch properly, no broken glass, no sashes painted shut, no decay; windows and doors have weather-stripping, “weep holes” installed
6. Interior doors operate easily and latch properly, no damage or decay, no broken hardware
7. Paint, wall covering, and paneling in good condition
8. Wood trim installed well and in good condition
9. Lights and switches operate properly
10. Adequate number of three pronged electrical outlets in each room
11. Electrical outlets test properly (spot check)
12. Heating/cooling source in each habitable room
13. Evidence of adequate insulation in walls
14. Fireplace: no cracking or damaged masonry, no evidence of back-drafting (staining
    on fireplace façade), damper operates properly, flue has been cleaned, flue is lined

Plumbing

1. Visible pipes: no damage, no evidence of leaks, no signs of stains on materials
   near pipes; drain pipes slope slightly down towards outlet to septic/sewage system
2. Water heater: no signs of rust, vented properly, sized to produce adequate
   quantities of hot water for the number of bedrooms in the house.
3. Water pump: does not short cycle
4. Galvanized pipes do not restrict water flow
5. Well water test is acceptable
6. Hot water temperature between 118 – 125 degrees Fahrenheit

Electrical

1. Visible wiring: in good condition, no “knob-and-tube” wiring, no exposed splices,
   cables secured and protected
2. Service panel: adequate capacity, all cables attached to panel with cable
   connectors; fuses or breakers are not overheating
3. No aluminum cable for branch circuits

HVAC

1. Appears to operate well throughout (good air flow on forced hot air systems)
2. Flues: no open seams, slopes up to chimney connection
3. No rust around cooling unit
4. No combustion gas odor
5. Air filter(s) clean
6. Ductwork in good condition
7. No asbestos on heating pipes, water pipes or air ducts
8. Separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal

Advanced Inspection | Home Inspection 507-721-0922