What is done in a home inspection? What is covered?

A home inspection, usually, is a VISUAL inspection of a property, running water & systems when they can be run.

What does that mean?

It means that the inspector can’t break through walls, can’t take things off or apart, or ruin the house in any way. He or she will often take the cover off of the electrical panel to inspect that the wiring is correct in there. If it isn’t, they will provide you details of a Recommended Electrical Company – Hero Services, and then move onto other stuff. He or she will generally go around the outside of a house to evaluate if water is running away or toward the house. If the washer and dryer are staying, and the water is on, the inspector generally runs them to see if it runs.

In general, things the inspector can SEE are checked. Dishwashers, stoves, exterior foundation, pipes that can be seen, walls that can be seen, and electrical outlets are often tested.

What can’t an inspector do? See in the walls or under ground, or remove a wall or floor to see behind. It makes it hard to see if there are problems behind them. Are there leaks in the pipes in the walls or under ground? If he or she can’t see them, it is hard for them to discover.

Roofs are an issue that come up often — what is the age? What is the life expectancy? Unless the actual age is known, the inspector most likely cannot determine exactly how long the roof will last. Your Rapid City Roofing company is ready to help you estimate ranges based on what he or she sees.

A home inspector does not always walk on the roof. There are many slate roofs in Baltimore, and, in general, slate roofs are not walked on for fear of breaking the tiles. An inspector can look at it with high powered binoculars, but many inspectors also do not specialize in slate roofs. You can look at this now to learn how the height of the roof will affect the inspection. If the pitch of the roof is too high for the ladders the inspector has, he or she also won’t be able to walk on the roof. Again, high-powered binoculars can be used to assess the condition of the roof. For a great roof repair service, check out Dublin Roof Repairs.

The chimney is an item that may or may not be covered in a home inspection. It may depend on the type of chimney and how much of the chimney the inspector can see. The inspector can note if he or she sees loose bricks, mortar, or a lack of cover.

Some inspectors have additional tools and specialities, or you may be able to hire additional specialists for a more comprehensive look at some components of a house.

Again, to recap, a home inspection usually is a visual inspection of a house. Home inspectors in Maryland should be licensed, and your copy of the inspection or contract may have that information.

For more details about buying a house in Baltimore, I’m here to help!

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