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Home Inspections
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When purchasing a home, including new construction, I strongly recommend you have a professional Home Inspection. The home inspection should be conducted by a professional who is qualified, experienced and performs to a code of conduct and ethics. In the State of Florida it is all too easy to obtain a Home Inspector's license, therefore when selecting a home inspector you should give serious consideration their qualifications.
The inspector you select should be a member of ASHI, The American Society of Home Inspectors, formed in 1976. ASHI has established Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics to help buyers and sellers make real estate transaction decisions based on accurate, objective information. ASHI professionals perform a visual inspection and produce a written report of the condition of residential properties for buyers or owners. The purpose of such an examination is to describe observable major defects which require repairs.
A basic home inspection of an average small home that meets the minimum ASHI Standards of Practice should take two hours or more. Larger homes and homes with more features take considerably more time. Naturally, the more thorough the inspector is, the longer the inspection will take.
Home Inspection Checklist
The professional you select should inspect the following elements of your future home and provide a written report detailing all possible problem areas:
- The structural components including foundation and framing by probing a representative number of structural components where deterioration is suspected or where clear indications of possible deterioration exist.
- The exterior wall covering, flashing and trim.
- All exterior doors.
- Attached decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated railings.
- The eaves, soffits, and fascias where accessible from the ground level.
- The vegetation, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls on the property when any of these are likely to adversely affect the building.
- Walkways, patios, and driveways leading to dwelling entrances.
- The roof system including the covering, roof drainage system, the flashings, skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations.
- The interior water supply and distribution systems including all fixtures and faucets.
- The drain, waste and vent systems including all fixtures.
- The water heating equipment.
- The vent systems , flues, and chimneys.
- The fuel storage and fuel distribution systems.
- The drainage sumps, sump pumps, and related piping.
- The Electrical System including the service drop, the service entrance conductors, cables, and raceways.
- The service equipment and main disconnects and the service grounding.
- The interior components of service panels and sub panels and the conductors.
the overcurrent protection devices
- A representative number of installed lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles.
- The ground fault circuit interrupters.
- The installed heating equipment, the vent systems, flues, and chimneys.
- The Central and through-wall cooling equipment.
- The interior walls, ceilings, and floors.
- The the steps, stairways, and railings.
- The countertops and a representative number of installed cabinets.
- A representative number of doors and windows including garage doors and garage door operators.
- The insulation system and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces.
- The ventilation of attics and foundation areas.
- Fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, including the vent systems, flues, and chimneys.
