Home Inspections

Check your smoke detectors – industry standard: 10-yr service life. Check out Amazon for some great deals on a bundle pack!

Common places for failed caulking – check your wet places – bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and kitchen sinks. These conditions should be addressed so you can prevent moisture intrusion. It’s best to keep water out at all times.

Check your smoke detectors – industry Wood decay, wood rot are forms of Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) and will be flagged in any home inspection. Reason this form of WDO is flagged is because this is food source for termites. Termites love decayed wood – a TASTY snack for them. A quick to find out if you have wood rot – touch it with your finger or the tip of a screwdriver, and if there is any give, or you can poke finger/tool through it, then it’s decayed wood.

Vegetation such as trees, shrubs and/or vines are in contact with or less than one foot from the structure’s exterior. Vegetation can serve as a conduit for wood destroying insects and may retain moisture against the exterior after it rains. Vegetation should be pruned and/or removed as necessary to maintain a one foot clearance between it and the structure’s exterior.

Chimney’s should be routinely serviced and cleaned as a part of routine house maintenance. If you own a home with a chimney, it is advisable to contact a qualified chimney sweep to clean your chimney flume. This area can attract and collect soot over time and if not property cleaned and cleared, can be a fire hazard.

Nail heads that are exposed should be repaired with an approved sealant in order to prevent future leaks down the road. It’s much cheaper to do this fix on your own, as a part of routine home maintenance, than to hire a roofer, which will cost no less than $400.

If you have pets at home, this is a common repair that needs to be addressed. These weatherstrips are rather easy and inexpensive to repair. Before you list your home, go to your local home improvement store, pick up a few strips, and replace. Not only will it make your doors look sharp, it’ll give your future buyer the sense that you took care of your home.

A common discrepancy noted in home inspections are torn or worn insulation on the air conditioning condensing unit’s refrigerant lines. This may result in reduced efficiency and increased energy costs. *NOTE* Missing insulation at the interior of the home will cause condensation to drip off of the refrigerant lines and can cause water damage and/or staining.

A very easy but often overlooked home maintenance item – HVAC air filters. Change out once per month. Also, home owners should get their HVAC units serviced once per year. The HVAC technician will check freon levels, ensure your air handler and condensing units are properly operating, and lastly, verify if your air handler’s coils need to be cleaned. This one is the MOST common discrepancy noted on all Home Inspection Reports.

And finally, clogged dryer vents! This one discrepancy happens in every 8 out of 10 houses. These should be cleaned out on a periodic basis. Clogged dryer vents are fire hazards due to the accumulation of lint.