A-Pro Top Rated Home Inspectors
A-Pro® Home Inspection Checklist
Below you’ll find several home inspection checklist, broken down by category, along with more detailed notes that can help you understand the importance of each system within a home. Our goal is to show you how in-depth the A-Pro, (CHI) Certified Rockwall Home inspector is while performing a 500-point home inspection. The A-Pro 500-Point Home Inspection which translates into over 1800 systems, and or components is the most comprehensive in the United States. We invite you to compare our competitors to see how thorough of a home inspection checklist they use. Furthermore, we advise you to ask them for a copy of their home inspection checklist and compare for yourself. Most Home Inspectors in the surrounding areas follow minimum standards required by a National Association or the State organization. A-Pro, since 1994, the most trusted home inspectors in the Country. No other Rockwall Home Inspector protects you better.
STRUCTURE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the home inspection checklist at the end of the bullets of each section; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
- Defects in the walls, roof framing, exterior wall framing, interior framing, or cracks in the foundation may indicate serious structural problems. The defects may also be the result of poor structural design, foundation settlement, poor construction techniques, improper structural modification, water damage, termite damage or other causes. Raising up a house to replace damaged structural components, or underpinning a defective foundation wall is a major expense.
- The A-Pro home inspector has the experience, education, and expertise to evaluate structural problems. This is one of the reasons why retaining the services of a “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector to conduct your home inspection may be advantageous. Some locations may not participate or charge more for this service. Call now for more information.
- Make sure your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector performs a “Foundation Level Survey” (SECTION 2.01)to determine the levelness of the foundation which is in many times the cause of structural defects.
- Please note that most standards of practice do NOT require home inspectors to check the foundation levelness. As an example, foundation levelness testing is not required by ASHI®, NAHI®or InterNACHI®.
To download an illustrative Foundation Handbook including checklist click here.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for structures click here.
ROOFING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets. This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
Wear on a roof may be visible if:
- the wear is very advanced but a roof that is starting to age is a more of a subtle defect that the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector can expose.
- Resurfacing a roof can be a huge undertaking and costs thousands of dollars; if the existing roofing surface needs to be removed prior to re-roofing it can cost even more.
NOTE: The seller might pay this expense if it wasn’t identified in the disclosure documentation.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for roofing click here.
EXTERIOR HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his or her trained eye.
- The siding or exterior of the house should be carefully inspected because it too can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace.
- Homes constructed prior to 1978 may contain lead paint which can be a problem if there is widespread deterioration of the paint surface. Lead-based Paint is hazardous to your health. Your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector home inspector may recommend further evaluation by a specialist to perform an X-ray evaluation of the paint surface for lead content. To properly eradicate lead paint can cost thousands of dollars. Replacement of older windows can cost thousands of dollars too. Your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector can make sure you don’t overlook this possible deficiency.
Your “CHI” Certified Rockwall home inspector will make sure that the land around the home is properly graded and diverts water away from the home. This will help to reduce the possibility of water intrusion into the home and also help prevent potential vermin activity.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for exteriors click here.
ELECTRICAL HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
- There are many home wiring standards with electrical systems. The government claims over 46,000 fires per year are caused by home electrical systems. Your “CHI” home inspector can help you identify these hazards before signing on the bottom line.
- At the outset of the electrical inspection, the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will determine the size of the service to determine if it is adequately sized for the home; installing an upgraded electrical service into a home can cost a thousand dollars or more.
- The electrical system should then be checked by removing the cover plate from the electric service panel. Once the wiring is exposed, the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector looks for problems in the panel such as undersized or oversized wiring, burned wiring, ovefused circuits(the fuse or circuit breaker is too large for the wire size), improper wiring connections, openings in the panel, unprofessionally installed wiring, and the like.
- In addition to checking for an adequate quantity of electrical switches and convenience outlets in the house, the outlets should be checked for open ground and wiring reversal conditions.
- The “CHI” home inspector will also check to make sure GFCI receptacles are in installed in proper places, for example, near a wet area, sinks, bathrooms and the like.
- Exposed wiring, dead-ended wiring, and other faulty wirings will be noted as a safety hazard in your home inspection report. Homes wired in the mid-60s to mid-70s may have aluminum wiring and if so, the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector should determine if an approved retrofit has been installed at the wiring connections; if not, a potential fire safety hazard exists.
- If the home is very old, it may have knob and tube wiring. According to HUD, Knob-and-Tube wiring is acceptable if found to be in good condition and a minimum of 60-amps. Otherwise, is this is obsolete wiring that can be hazardous. Extensive rewiring replacement can cost thousands of dollars.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for structures click here.
INSULATION/VENTILATION HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets. The home inspection checklist will give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eyes.
- Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cools in the summer.
- What are the Recommended Levels of Insulation for a home? Proper ventilation in a home is more important than many home buyers may think. Inadequate ventilation in an attic can result in accelerated deterioration of the structural roof deck. If this occurs, a significant expense will be incurred to remove and replace the roofing shingles, and roof deck, and in extreme cases the roof rafters.
For a free homeowner’s ventilation guide click here.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for insulation/ventilation click here.
PLUMBING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
- The “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will determine the type of pipe that supplies water to the house from the municipal main in the street.
- Keep in mind, that all buildings settle and that over time, usually 25-30 years or so, the plumbing under the foundation may begin to cause problems, such as slow draining pipes and repetitive clogs. Since these type problems can cost in some cases over ten thousand dollars to repair, you may want to ask your “CHI” home inspector to perform a Sewer Scope Inspection or sometimes referred to a pipeline video inspection. An inspection of this type typically cost about $200-$350, and can easily pay for itself.
- Old lead and galvanized steel water supply pipes replacement cost thousands of dollars.
- Be sure that your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector checks the piping distribution in the house for the type of material and condition looking for deterioration, incompatible piping materials, and leaks.
- Your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will carry a moisture meter to evaluate any suspect plaster or wallboard on the ceilings and walls caused by water leaks; replacing the piping network in the walls and ceilings is a major expense that can cost thousands of dollars.
- Be sure that the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector checks all of the fixtures and faucets for proper operation, and also checks a tiled bathtub and shower enclosures for integrity.
Replacement of tiles in a bathroom or replacement of a shower pan can run in the thousands of dollars.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for plumbing click here.
COOLING/HEATING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
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- The home inspection “CHI” Certified Dandridge, Greeneville, and Morristown Home Inspector should test the central air-conditioning system to be sure that it is cooling properly.
- Replacement of an air-conditioning compressor can cost two to five thousand dollars.
- Defective furnace heat exchangers are not always easy to uncover and can release deadly carbon monoxide into the home. Replacement can cost three to four thousand dollars.
- Leaking boilers systems will also require replacement as such the cost is three to five thousand dollars. Your “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector should look for these major defects.
- The “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be sure that the heat distribution is satisfactory and that the heat distribution piping or ductwork is in good condition.
- Safety concerns such as defective controls, inoperative emergency switches, and evidence of past malfunctions and carbon monoxide emissions must be carefully investigated by the “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector.
- Plan on replacing any system twenty years or older with a modern efficient heating system.
- Beware of special problems associated with radiant floor heating and other floor type heating systems as they may cause a safety hazard.
- The “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector should advise you to have underground oil storage tanks tested for reliability; a leaking underground oil storage tank can cause thousands of dollars of environmental damage.
- Another environmental concern is the existence of insulation that may contain asbestos and is especially hazardous if the material is friable. The “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will advise you to have any suspect material laboratory tested.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for HVAC systems click here.
INTERIOR HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets. The checklist should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his or her trained eyes.
- The basement areas of the home should also be thoroughly checked for signs of water intrusion, such as stains, mildew, odor, dampness, efflorescence on the walls and floors, and damaged and or cupping floors which is many times caused by moisture. These defects that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
- “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspectors look for waterproofing systems, sump pumps, and so forth, in the basement; these systems can help to reduce the risk of water flooding in the basement. If a house needs waterproofing measures, this too can run into the thousands of dollars.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for interiors click here.
BUILT-IN APPLIANCE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Rockwall Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.
- Replacement or repair of defective appliances can cost hundreds if not, thousands of dollars. The systems tested are dishwasher through its normal cycle. Range, cooktop, and oven; Trash compactor; Garbage disposal, ventilation equipment or range hood; microwave oven; Central Vacuum System; and any other built-In-Appliance.
- Non-built-in appliances such as clothes washers and dryers, Refrigeration units such as freezers, refrigerators, and ice makers may be at an additional fee.
It’s important to note that only ISHI® Standards require “CHI” inspectors to inspect all built-in appliances. As an example, appliances are not required to be inspected by ASHI®, NAHI® or InterNACHI® standards of practice.
To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for appliances click here.
DEFERRED HOME MAINTENANCE CAN BE INDICATIVE OF MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN BUYING A HOME. DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR FREE MAINTENANCE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST WITH YOU.
- Beware of homes where signs of deferred maintenance are evident. For example, look for broken fixtures, cracked masonry, outdated electrical outlets, and obvious plumbing and electrical work. Structural additions and renovations that were likely installed by the homeowner, and that were not installed professionally can also cost thousands of dollars.
Make sure to ask your inspector about A-Pro’s Maintenance Home Inspection program today to avoid these and other costly repairs.
Get your free maintenance home inspection checklist here.
OTHER IMPORTANT HOME BUYING OR HOME SELLING FACTS
- It is preferable to retain the services of a “CHI” Certified Rockwall home inspector who issues a full written report detailing what is wrong, why it’s wrong, and what needs to be done to correct the uncovered defects. It’s just important to make sure that your inspector has the knowledge of reporting the positive attributes of the home as well. When making such a vast buying decision, this can help you keep the existing home in proper perspective.
- Beware of Home Inspectors using a fill in a fill-in the blank checklist and handing it to you at the end of the home inspection. These type home inspectors may be indicative of a part-time home inspector or someone who doesn’t do proper research before writing the home inspection report. These reports can be identified by seeing various boxes on the report, such as good, fair, poor, or inadequate. Typically, the home inspection reports consist of checklists handed to you at the end of an inspection that leaves you wondering what to do next. Most professionals agree that home inspectors should use a narrative type reporting method and deliver the report in a reasonable amount of time. No one needs a hard-copy of the report immediately after the home inspection. Therefore, be sure that you retain the services of a “CHI” Certified Rockwall Home Inspector whose door is always open for future questions and provides a 500-point home inspection with a narrative type report with pictures and videos. With A-Pro you get details you need to make the most significant investment of your life.
A-PRO’S FREE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Take a copy of the A-Pro’s free home inspection checklist (limited version. Perfect for home shopping) when you are visiting perspective homes, and use the checklist to make notes. You will find this checklist to be an invaluable resource to help you remember what you’ve seen when visiting the property or discussing it with your agent.
It is also a valuable aid when you accompany your Licensed and Certified Rockwall Home Inspector during your home inspection.
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