What's Inspected

There are many different inspections but only two distinct types: those of generalists, and those of specialists.  Most property inspectors are "generalists" and conduct their inspections in accordance with industry or State standards, which means that they are not specialists but have sufficient knowledge of building materials and construction practices to alert their clients to the need for an evaluation by a specialist when necessary.  Therefore, if you've had your home inspected or intend to have a home inspected, it's very important that you understand the difference and have reasonable expectations about the service you contracted for or you will be disappointed.  The most common specialist inspections are made by electricians, plumbers, roofing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors, all of whom not only possess knowledge appropriate to their trades but perform more compreshensive inspections than generalists.

Houses are rarely perfect, even those that are brand new. In fact, the chance of a house being perfect in every respect is slim. The older a house the greater likelihood of it having defects and deficiencies, not only because of the wear and tear that occurs through time but because of the continous advances that are made in materials and technology.  Therefore, you should not anticipate that the inspection of your house was or will be technically exhaustive.  As indicated earlier, your inspector is a generalist who performs inspections in accordance with standards that are not only limited in scope but essentially visual.

So, a home inspection is a visual inspection of the inside and outside of the home including the operation of all systems and equipment.  To assist in the inspection we may utilize tools and test equipment such as a moisture meter, combustible gas dectector, infrared thermometer and an optional thermal imaging camera (to name a few). The thermal imaging camera generally allows me to detect active and passive water and moisture leaks, electrical hot spots, insulation gaps and voids and energy loss from ducts, doors and windows.

I follow the Standards of Practice pursuant to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) for conducting a home inspection.  As a NACHI-certified professional home inspector, I have the knowledge and expertise to provide you with a thorough and professional, non-intrusive, visual inspection of your home, from roof to foundation. 

Outside the home, I will check the exterior walls, roof, driveway, deck, grade, sprinklers, etc., then I will move inside to examine the walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. The heating, air-conditioning,plumbing, and electrical systems will all be examined to ensure that they function as intended. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms receive a thorough check, along with the attic and basement or crawl space.

Here are some of the many items I'll be looking at during your home inspection:

Foundation and support structure
Fireplaces
Roof systems
Basement seepage
Safety controls
Water heater
Ventilation
Electrical capacity & components
Structural integrity
Steps and stairs
Heating system
Central Air Conditioning system
Walks and driveways
Built-in appliances
Plumbing system & fixtures
Garages, Carports, Workshops or other external buildings (some buildings are optional) 
Surface drainage
Windows & doors
Insulation
Gutters & downspouts
Decks 
Lawn Sprinklers

I invite you to come along and watch as I inspect your home.  Although I wish to stay focused in order to provide you the most complete and thorough inspection questions and comments regarding your home will always be addressed at the end of the inspection during the "walk-through".  There is no such thing as a dumb question! So don't be shy.