What is covered in a standard home inspection

1. ROOF & EXTERIOR

• Roof-covering materials;                                          

• Gutters;

• Downspouts;

• Vents, flashing, skylights, chimney, and other roof             penetrations;

• General structure of roof via accessible panels, doors           or stairs;

• Exterior wall-covering materials, flashing and trim;

• Exterior doors;

• Adjacent walkways and driveways;

• Stairs, steps, stoops, stairways and ramps;

• Porches, patios, decks, balconies and carports;

• Railings, guards and handrails;

• Eaves, soffits and fascia;

• A representative number of windows;

• Vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls and property grading, where they may adversely affect the structure due to moisture intrusion.

2. BASEMENT, FOUNDATION, CRAWLSPACE & STRUCTURE.

• Foundation;                                                         

• Basement;

• Crawlspace;

• Structural components.​

3. HEATING SYSTEM

• The heating system using normal operating controls.

4. COOLING SYSTEM

• Cooling system using normal operating controls.

5. PLUMBING

• Main water supply shut-off valve;

• Main fuel supply shut-off valve;

• Water heating equipment, including energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief (TPR) valves, Watts 210 valves, and bracing;

• Interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water;

• Toilets for proper operation by flushing;

• Sinks, tubs, and showers for functional drainage;

• Drain, waste and vent system;

• Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.

6. ELECTRICAL

• Service drop;

• Overhead service conductors and attachment point;

• Service head, gooseneck and drip loops;

• Service mast, service conduit, and raceway;

• Electric meter and base;

• Service-entrance conductors;

• Main service disconnect;

• Panelboards and over-current protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses);

• Service grounding and bonding;

• A representative number of switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles using circuit tester where possible;

• All ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacles and circuit breakers observed and deemed to be GFCIs using a GFCI tester where possible;

• Smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.

7. FIREPLACE

• Readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys;

• Lintels above the fireplace openings;

• Damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable;

• Cleanout doors and frames.

8. ATTIC, INSULATION & VENTILATION                        

• Insulation in unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces, and foundation areas;

• Ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces, and foundation areas;

• Mechanical exhaust systems in kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area.

9. DOORS, WINDOWS & INTERIOR

• A representative number of doors and windows by opening and closing them;

• Floors, walls, and ceilings;

• Stairs, steps, landings, stairways, and ramps;

• Railings, guards, and handrails;

• Garage vehicle doors and the operation of garage door openers, using normal operating controls.