Limitations and Exclusions of Home Inspection

Well, the inspector is subject to laws regarding home inspection and should have the proper certifications and/or licenses through the state. But what purpose does a home inspection serve?

The home inspection is a visual assessment of the condition of a house. Inspections are frequently performed when an individual is going to buy a home, but can be done at any time to see what is wrong with a home in order to ensure it stays in satisfactory condition. However, this is a service that is utilized mostly when an individual is buying a home.

What a home inspector does

All you have to do is call the home inspector of your choice and have them meet you at the home. A home inspection can take a couple of hours, while the inspector walks through the home and looks at certain areas. An inspector knows exactly what to look at and, although he or she cannot see within the walls, can sometimes spot telltale signs that something is wrong inside the structure itself.

The home inspector will:

� Assess the outside and inside of the home

� Look for cracks, holes, and any other signs of structural damage such as water damage

� Look for any creaks and cracks in floors

� Evaluate any evidence of electrical issues

� Look at basements for signs of leakage and will look at piping if it is visible

� Look at an attic to ensure it is properly insulated and if any other issues exist

There are so many areas that a home inspector can observe. Once the observation period is over, a report is generated.

Who uses home inspection?

A homeowner getting ready to sell their home may use a home inspector. They do this so that they can make necessary repairs before placing the home on the market. Banks will provide a list of inspectors to potential buyers and the report may be provided to the bank so that the bank knows the property is not an extreme liability. And sometimes buyers will call on an inspector on their own to ensure they are making a good buy.

This is a necessary service as a homeowner and as a home buyer. It provides protection for all parties involved and also helps a buyer reduce the amount they pay on a home based on the flaws that are found.

When buying a home, home inspection is a very important step in the home buying process. It is like the home is getting a check-up by a doctor. If anything wrong is found, you can provide the medicine in the form of repairs. If you are unable to have the repairs performed, you simply lower the price of the home to compensate the new owner for having to take on the repairs.

It is important, however, that you find a home inspector who knows how to do their job. You want someone who is thorough so that you know the scope of the repairs that need to be done to the home.

Here are some questions to ask in order to find a home inspector who will get the job done right:

� What kind of training have you had? The answer to this question should include some sort of training. You don’t want just anyone who calls themselves a home inspector. You can ask if he or she is a member of the National Association of Home Inspectors or any other professional association.

� What kind of experience do you have? Experience is a good thing, although there are some newer inspectors that are great. That’s when you really focus on the training question. Experience will be evident because the inspector should know where to find common faults and where to find the components that he or she is to evaluate.

� What is the inspection’s scope? The inspector should have a checklist that they go by. Ask to see this checklist when they arrive at your home so that you have an idea of what they will be looking for. If anything strikes you as “off” you can decline the inspection before it starts.

� Can I be present during the inspection? You want to be present during the inspection so that you know the inspector is using his or her time to inspect the home. This gives you the assurance you need that the inspection is done right. Even though you may be handed a list with few faults, you ant to make sure that all faults are covered because you don’t want to find them later. If you are a seller, you don’t want the buyer coming back to you later. If you are the buyer, you don’t want the hassle.

Once you have your answers to these questions, you will know whether or not you have a quality home inspector to inspect your home or potential home.

As we begin to enjoy the Spring season, we subconsciously know that with a change of seasons comes a new “to do” list. So let’s get started…

Exterior
� check and seal the decks-check the steps and rails for loose or damaged boards and raised nails
� service the sprinkler system
� open the outside hose connection shutoffs
� check that the grading of the soil and hard surfaces slopes away from the foundation
� check the exterior of your home for the conditions of the paint, caulk and putty
� clean the gutters and make sure downspouts are attached and extended
� inspect the roof materials and roof flashings
� check the chimney for damage to the cap, flashing, masonry
� inspect and clean the siding
� inspect vents, chimneys and other protected areas for bird and insect nests
� clean window and door screens-repair or replace damaged screens
� inspect the weather stripping around doors, windows and the garage doors and repair as necessary
� inspect the foundation for cracks, moisture and insects
� trim trees and shrubs away from the home

Plumbing/Bath
� check the bathroom grout, caulk, and tile for damage
� clean the bathroom exhaust fans and grills – make sure it the fans exhaust outside and not into the attic
� draw sediments from the hot water heater as needed
� inspect the water heater’s temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaking or discharge
� clean the lint from the clothes dryer duct and from the unit per the manufacturers instructions

Kitchen
� clean the range hood filter and wash the flan blades
� clean the refrigerator’s coil, drain pan, and check the drain

Basement
� turn off the humidifier and water supply and switch the humidifier’s duct damper from winter to a summer setting as needed
� clean the dehumidifier and start its operation in the basement as needed
� check the basement for any signs of leaks, mildew or condensation
� check for adequate ventilation in the crawl spaces to remove any excess moisture
� test the sump pump to make sure it removes water from the sump hole

Attic
� check the attic for signs of leaks, mildew, and condensation
� check whole-house fan – clean blades, lubricate, check belt

Air Conditioning
� have an air conditioning professional check the condenser unit to be sure it is level and clean and check the condensate drain to make sure it is clean and draining
� clean or change the air conditioner filter (unless it is a special type)
� adjust any duct dampers for a switch from heating to cooling if necessary
� high & low returns – open high returns and close low returns for the cooling season
� turn on the power 24 hours before operation – keep the thermostat off during this period

General
� replace smoke and CO detector batteries

Peter Ottowitz
Certified Master Inspector
Infrared Certified – Level I Thermographer
Certified Level I & II Mold Assessor by Indoor Environmental Standards Organization
Certified Allergen Screener
Member National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Certified Environmental Data Resources Provider
Certified Pool/Spa Operator # 01-277654, National Swimming Pool Foundation
American Building Sciences Academy, Barre, VT
Snell School of Thermography, Montpelier, VT
MBA, Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
MSEE, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
BSEE, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

Floor plans are an excellent tool to demonstrate a property, to visualize the room layout and plan your new building, home or commercial space. The process of rendering professional floor plans is very simple. First you produce a complete sketch of the room layout containing all room dimensions, doors & windows, fixtures like wardrobes, fitted work tops in kitchens, bathroom amenities, etc. This sketch or a scanned image of it needs to be sent to the team of expert architectural drafters who will accurately convert your drawings into a set of effective floor plans, using popular CAD techniques such as AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, etc.

The team can deliver the finished floor plans in any desired format and according to your specifications. You can upload these drawings to your web site or include them in marketing collaterals to show it to your clients. We suggest you to use the following checklist to make sure that floor plan drawings are complete and give enough information to comply Building Code requirements in your region or city.

Your architectural plans should at least include:
- Site location
- Drawing scales
- Cross-section symbol
- Structural components (bars, joists), including sizes, lengths and materials
- Interior partitions
- Interior dimensions
- Exterior walls
- Exterior dimensions
- Room names & sizes
- Door locations & sizes
- Window locations & sizes
- Home/Office appliances
- Bathroom & plumbing fixtures
- Smoke detectors & alarm
- Trusses drawings if applicable.

Today an increasing number of clients demand more detailed information and compliance with regional building codes. A set of these drawings will demonstrate how exactly the property is laid out and can provide clear idea of rooms, individual floors or the entire property.By Richard M Bothom