Interior room inspections are conducted visually. Interior walls, ceilings and floors are inspected based on normal building practices for homes of similar age and construction and exclude cosmetic items.
- Dryer vents should be vented to the exterior. They should not terminate in the crawlspace, garage or attic. The condition of the dryer electrical service should be reported.
- Interior portions of doors and windows are inspected for proper ventilation, use as emergency exits and ease of operation.
- Kitchen and laundry sinks should be inspected for proper installation and operation. Plumbing systems should be free of leaks, drain, and vent properly.
- Kitchen and laundry shelves and cabinets are inspected for acceptable operation.
- Fireplaces are checked for proper installation. We do not operate these units. We visually inspect evidence of downdrafts, creosote in the throat or flue area, loose or missing dampers, and/or loose, missing or damaged fire box material. Flue interiors are not inspected. Please consult a professional chimney sweep.
- The presence of smoke detectors are reported and should be located on each floor, halls, bedrooms, and basements.
- Railing and stair systems are inspected for safety. Proper railing installation and consistent stair riser and tread dimensions are necessary for safety.
- Squeaking floors in a house are generally the result of aging materials in the floor and minor stresses that are common as the house gets older. Unless otherwise noted, these should be considered a minor item only.
- Cracks in the walls are very common in most homes and usually indicate minor movement. These cracks are typically not serious and are even considered to be normal as the house gets older. Larger cracks may indicate ongoing movement and, if noted in the report, further evaluation by a structural engineer is warranted.
- If a house experiences settlement one of the first noticeable signs will likely be at the doors. If a door sticks it usually means that the door or door frame is no longer square. If noted in the report, sticky doors should be evaluated for potential settlement problems.