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Inspections Include:
Windows, doors, vinyl siding, brick ,
cabinets, carpet, wood flooring, tile, appliances,
countertops, furnaces, ductwork, roofs, poured concrete,
concrete re-bar, driveways, wood framing, trim framing,
sinks, tubs, toilets, dishwashers, disposals, water tanks,
water pipes, drain pipes, soil backfill, wiring, electrical
fixtures, services.
* Resale/Pre-listing
Inspections - Condos, townhouses & single family homes.
Fees from $200 and up depending on size and location
(typically
$1.00 per Sq ft). I’m licensed in Virginia, DC and
Maryland.
New
Construction/Remodeling Inspections”
- These are remodeling, foundation, pre-drywall,
pre-purchase, and one year warranty inspections.
You hire us to go over your new home with a fine tooth comb
teaching you about the house and letting you know the
readily visible code, maintenance
and construction defects you need to be aware of. I inspect
the entire house, with you, looking for electrical,
building, structural, HVAC & plumbing defects. I provide a
defect list report and photos for documentation.
Inspections take
2-5 hours and fees start at $200.00 depending on size and
location (typically $1.00 per Sq ft).
Radon testing is also available.
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Insulation
– Insulation should be fully installed in all exterior
walls, around windows,
around doors and attics. Improperly installed
insulation raise bills and causes cold rooms.
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Electrical – I inspect
wires, fixtures, ground wires, circuit breaker/fuse
panels, meter boxes, service entrances, smoke alarms,
appliances, fans, GFCI’s, AFCI’s and outlets.
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Exterior
walls – I inspect vinyl siding, brick veneer, wood
siding, window trim, joint caulking, painting, roof
trim, stucco and stone.
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Exterior
components
– I inspect foundations, soil grading, patios, decks,
porches, sidewalks, driveways, garage doors, gas meters,
railings and steps.
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Roofs
– I inspect roof shingles, gutters, downspouts,
ventilation, metal roofs, flashing, tile roofs, wood
roofs, roof trim, soffits, fascia and roof penetrations.
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Windows/doors – I inspect for broken glass, lost
seals, leaking windows/doors, open exterior joints,
caulking, hardware, screens, trim, paint and insulation.
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Interior
components – I inspect drywall, concrete floor
slabs, foundations, basements, crawlspaces, floor
coverings, structure, walls, floors, stairs, fireplaces
and railings.
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Kitchen
– I inspect appliances, GFCI outlets, plumbing fixtures,
dishwasher, cabinets, pantries, doors, floors, light
fixtures and ceilings.
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HVAC
system – I inspect furnaces, heat pumps, AC
units, ductwork, registers, filters, thermostats, and
refrigerant lines.
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Plumbing
system – I inspect water pipes, drain/sewer
pipes, plumbing fixtures, look for leaks, water service,
pressure valves, hot water tanks, sump pumps and roof
vents.
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Experience and knowledge – I have done
thousands of inspections. I have 30 years of field
experience. I’m certified by the ICC Building Code
Association (www.ICCsafe.org).
I’ve memorized the National Association of Home Builders
guidelines. I’ve installed and read the installation
procedures for all the products I inspect above.
Defects Found Usually
Include:
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Smoke alarms missing and/or
covered with shipping bag.
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Missing wall, ceiling,
window and door insulation which causes cold rooms.
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Missing insulation behind
TH furnace rooms causing cold basements.
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Settled foundation soils
which can cause basement leaks.
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Cracks in the foundation
wall which are leaking.
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Exterior door/window trim,
which was never caulked, and is leaking.
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Roof penetrations which are
leaking.
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Stair support columns which
are too small creating a structural problem.
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Cut floor joists which are
a structural defect.
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Sump pumps not installed
and/or not working correctly.
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Electrical panels missing
parts, exposing wires which is dangerous.
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Exterior ground rods
protruding from the ground which should be flush.
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Holes in the exterior
siding which are leaking into the house.
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Missing roof shingles
and/or flashing which is leaking.
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Water ponding in the yard
over 24 hours or 48 hours in a swell.
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Soils settling over utility
trenches causing ponding water.
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Water ponding on the
driveway over 24 hours causing ice to form.
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And many more which cannot
be documented on this page!
Check out this page of
common
defects found, a PDF, 202 KB file.
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