A thorough home inspection

A thorough home inspection in Colorado Springs, Colorado will include the following:

1. Roof (shingles, flashings, chimneys, vents, trim and gutters, drip edges, skylights, downspouts, and other visible roof related items)
2. Plumbing and Fixtures (water pressure, water distribution system, hose bibs, sinks and faucets, bath/showers and toilets, sanitary system, and other plumbing system components)
3. Heating and Cooling Systems (furnace, air cleaning parts, ductwork, electronic monoxide testing, electric gas sniffer testing, air conditioner and lines, and other visible related HVAC components)
4. Basements, Crawl Spaces, and Foundation (insulation, ventilation, posts, vapor barriers, utility attachment, structural items, radon, floors and walls, and columns)
5. Attics (insulation, ventilation, rafters, joists and collar ties, trusses, wiring attachments, and other visible related items)
6. Interior (tile floors and ceilings, walls, stairs and banisters, finishes, sinks, cabinets, shelving, built-in appliances, smoke detectors and safety-related items, and other visible interior-related components)
7. Electrical Systems (service entry and clearances, service panel, switches and outlets, visible wiring and junction boxes, grounding system, and other related electrical components)
8. Exterior (paint, siding materials, attachments, windows, doors, sashes and lintels, vents, entryways, and other visible exterior related components)

When the inspection is over, your home inspector will prepare a detailed inspection report regarding the property. We spend time with you, clearly explaining our findings, giving you real answers that can help you. After the inspection, you will know more about the house, which will allow you to make decisions with confidence. You will have all the information you need to make an informed decision about the property. It does not end there, we will keep a copy of the report to help us answer your questions at anytime in the future.

While an inspection will give you an idea of the overall condition, it might not uncover hidden problems such as pests, mold or asbestos. It also won’t turn up flaws in areas that are below ground or otherwise inaccessible to the inspector. The home inspector will not move furniture, lift carpets, cut holes in walls, shovel snow, or dismantle equipment. The inspection is not technically exhaustive and all encompassing due to the various limitations of a visual inspection.

Finding an inspector

You should hire a certified, professional home inspector to conduct a thorough home inspection. How do you choose one? Along with agents, lenders and other home pros, internachi has lists of inspectors with reviews. You can use the Agent Finder tool to find all kinds of real estate pros, including home inspectors. Get recommendations, check their online reviews and study their websites. Get a sample report to make sure what they will produce is thorough. Your agent probably has suggestions but you don't need to use them.

You will want to be clear on exactly what is and isn't included in the inspection price. Will they test for lead paint? How about asbestos in the ceiling tiles? Is that part of the basic inspection or will it cost more? The price, though you will pay it, is probably the least of your concerns. Most inspectors are in a similar range of $600-$800 anyway and any fluctuation is a small price to pay for what you will get. Early in the home buying process start researching inspectors and have at least a couple in mind, especially if the market is busy. You'll need to be sure you can get an inspection scheduled within your contract timeline, so if your first choice isn't available, you need someone waiting in the wings.

Full Service Home Inspection

We Have taken major strides to ensure their clients are receiving the most thorough Home Inspection on the market. All of our standard Home, IAQ/Mold & Energy Audit Inspections are accompanied with the industries most advanced Thermal Imaging and Acoustical scanning. All our Inspectors are SIRI (Specialist - Infrared Residential Inspector) trained and certified through the Home Safe Infrared Thermography and Acoustic Programs. This training and technology allows us to identify hot and cold signatures within the structures walls, ceilings, floors, etc. which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Being able to identify irregular surface temperatures allows us to focus our efforts in determining the nature of these suspect areas. Causes can range from improper placement and/or disturbed insulation, to moisture intrusion and or leaks to wood destroying insects, bees and small rodents.

Our Inspection Services Include:

• Residential Property Inspections
• Post Correction (Clearance) Inspections
• Radon Testing
• Carbon Monoxide Testing
• Indoor Air Quality & Mold Investigations
• Energy Audits
• Course of Construction Inspections
• One Year Builder Warranty Inspections
• Home Protection Plans (Child, Senior & Fire Safety Inspections)
• Methamphetamine Testing

Thermal Imaging Included as a Standard.

Home Inspection Checklist

One way to be organized is to have a complete checklist of to-dos or whatever that needs to be looked into. A home inspection is no exemption to such an organization strategy. There are three good reasons why a home inspection checklist is beneficial. One, it assures a high level of performance. Two, it ensures consistency. Three, for ethical fairness and purposes. Benefits can range from not missing out on anything to avoiding conflicts of interests by adhering to standards. The home inspection business, however, is not limited to having one checklist. Our home inspectors from Colorado Spring, CO use checklists to ensure that such critical inspection is done accurately. Take a look at Journey Inspections checklists and the nature and benefits of each.

First, we look at is the checklist of actions a client must take between scheduling and the actual inspection. The purpose of this first checklist is to ensure that nothing is left out unintentionally that might require rescheduling. This list ensures that nothing interferes with the inspection such as pets, movers, deliveries, no blockages to access on crawlspaces, attic, electrical panels, garage, utilities are turned on, and nothing is locked.

Next checklist adheres to ethical standards. The benefit of this checklist is to preempt conflicts of interests and that performance of our inspectors during a home inspections colorado springs does not fall short of professionalism. This includes, a) inspector must disclose any personal relationships with other parties involved b) not use his report to gain future referrals c) the inspector must not agree to report predetermined conditions c) no fraudulent advertising d) the inspector must not provide remedial work to compensate an inspection for one year afterward.

The third checklist stipulates the general exclusions of the inspection such that a) inspection is not exhaustive b) it doesn’t involve the inspector to move things for easy access c) the inspection is not a code compliance review d) the inspection is not a survey for environmental or hazardous materials.

The final checklist is one that is extremely significant during the inspection. Everything that needs to be assessed is listed here. The purpose of this checklist is for the client to be aware of what to expect, what will be inspected, and how extensive the home inspection colorado springs is. The following is the list of components inspected during a home inspector in Colorado Spring, CO

Exterior of the Structure:
Foundation, Roof, Flashing, Chimney, Downspouts, Gutters, Siding, Trim, Windows, Doors, Stairs, Decks & Patios, Grading, Drainage

Rain Protection:
Gutters, Downspouts, Grading, Overall property drainage

Interior of the Structure:
Ceilings, Walls, Floors, Closets, Electrical Outlets, Windows, Kitchen Cabinets, Counters & Exhaust

Attic:
Insulation, Ventilation, Framing, Water Penetration, Accessibility & Storage

Crawlspace:
Foundation Materials, Flooring, Supporting Members, Stairways, Water Penetration, Area Ventilation & Drainage

Surrounding Components:
Driveways, Walkways, Retaining Walls

Plumbing:
Bath & Kitchen Fixtures, Vents, Water Flow & Shutoff Valves

Domestic Water Heater:
Equipment, Capacity, Energy Source & Safety Controls

Heating System:
Equipment, Energy Source, Zones, Safety Controls, Ductwork/ Piping

Air Conditioning:
Equipment, Zones, Ductwork

Electrical System:
Service Entry, Meter, Type, Rating of Overload Protection, Grounding, Bonding, Distribution Panel, Circuits, Outlets, Fixtures, Conductor Materials & Branch Systems

Garage or Carport:
Overhead Doors, Safety Controls & Fire Protection Materials

Fireplace:
Damper Operation, Exposed Flue, and Hearth

While most people think that a home inspection is not mandatory, our goal here at Pueblo West Inspections is to ensure that homeowners have a complete understanding of the property. Checklists are just one way of showcasing our commitment to providing our clients only the best.