One of the least glamorous, but most important part of the inspection, is the attic. The attic holds the key for many critical components of the home including structure and energy efficiency. Although, an exterior inspection of the roof is critical, an inspection of the attic can provide additional evidence of current or past water entry that may not be evident anywhere else in the house. Since most homeowners rarely visit the attic, there may be unknown issues present in the attic which need to be addressed. Remember, one of the biggest complaints against home inspectors is missed roof leaks. Though both the exterior and attic inspections of the roof are considered essential, a good home inspector knows that quality information on the roofs’ condition can be obtained during the attic inspection. Attic Access The standard requires that the attic access type be identified. Most typical are pull down ladders, scuttle holes, stairs and door access. Some attics can be walked and others, due to construction or stored material, must be inspected from the furnace platform or the top of the ladder. Regardless, the means used must be identified and the reason why the inspector did not walk through the attic must be noted. Attic areas that are not accessible must also be identified on the report. Information gathered in…[Read More]
A Home Inspector’s Role Series – #6 The Electrical Inspection of a Home
As you can imagine, a thorough home inspection involves parts of the home which are much more technical than others. When you think about the many intricate aspects of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC components, you realize a home inspector has to be at the top of his game. If there is a defect or deficiency in any of these areas, it is almost always based on trade codes and standards. The inspector is not performing a code compliance inspection, but will point out any deficiencies defined in that particular code for that category. For example, an inspector may note a missing cover from a junction box which is considered a potential safety or fire issue by the National Electrical Code. All junction boxes must have covers. Keep in mind that during the electrical part of the inspection, the inspector is at risk for serious electrical shock hazards as well. That is another reason why you should secure only a qualified professional home inspector to perform any home inspection. If an inspector is not up-to-date on code and safety standards, any missed or improperly identified items can pose a threat to the property’s occupants. The Outside Electrical Inspection Part of the electrical inspection is performed outdoors on the outside of the house. The cable service entrance, coming into the home…[Read More]
