Home. Safe. Home. - HomeTeam Inspection Service

home inspection report
Home. Safe. Home.
Each office is independently owned and operated. | ©2013 The HomeTeam Inspection Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
What is a home inspection?
The purpose of a home inspection is to visually examine
the readily accessible systems and components of the home.
The inspectors are not required to move personal property,
materials or any other objects that may impede access or limit
visibility. Items that are unsafe or not functioning, in the opinion
of the inspector, will be described in accordance with the
standards of practice by which inspectors abide.
What does this report mean to you?
This inspection report is not intended as a guarantee, warranty
or an insurance policy. Because your home is one of the largest
investments you will ever make, use the information provided in
this report and discuss the findings with your real estate agent
and family to understand the current condition of the home.
Our inspections exceed the highest
industry standards.
FAST
Because we use a team of inspectors, each an expert in his or
her field, our inspections are performed with greater efficiency
and more expertise and therefore exceed the highest industry
standards. We are pleased to provide this detailed report as a
service to you, our client.
TRUSTED
We believe in your dream
of home ownership.
We want to help you get into your dream home. Therefore,
we take great pride in assisting you with this decision making
process. This is certainly a major achievement in your life. We are
happy to be part of this important occasion and we appreciate
the opportunity to help you realize your dream.
We exceed your expectations.
Buying your new home is a major decision. Much hinges on the
current condition of the home you have chosen. That is why we
have developed the HomeTeam Inspection Report. Backed by
HomeTeam’s experience with hundreds of thousands of home
inspections over the years, the report in your hand has been
uniquely designed to meet and exceed the expectations of
today’s homebuyers. We are proud to deliver this high-quality
document for your peace of mind. If you have any questions
while reviewing this report, please contact us immediately.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve you.
ACCURATE
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
GENERALDESCRIPTION
Throughoutthisreport,theterms"right"and"left"areusedtodescribethehomeasviewedfromthestreet.Asystem
orcomponenthasamajorvisualdefectifitiseitherunsafeornotfunctioningandcannotbereplacedorrendered
safeorfunctionalforlessthan$1,000.TheHomeTeaminspectsforevidenceofstructuralfailureandsafetyconcerns
only.Thecosmeticconditionofthepaint,wallcovering,carpeting,windowcoverings,etc.,arenotaddressed.All
conditionsarereportedastheyexistedatthetimeoftheinspection.
Routinemaintenanceandsafetyitemsarenotwithinthescopeofthisinspectionunlesstheyotherwiseconstitute
major,visuallyobservabledefects.Althoughsomemaintenanceand/orsafetyitemsmaybedisclosed,thisreportdoes
notincludeallmaintenanceorsafetyitems,andshouldnotberelieduponforsuchitems.
Ifreferenceismadeinthereporttoactiveleaks,moisturepenetration,moisturestainsand/orcondensationstainsitis
importanttobeawareofthepotentialformoldgrowthaswaterisoneoftheessentialfactorsforitsgrowth.Moldis
believedtotriggerallergicreactionsandevenserioushealthproblems.Ifyouareconcerned,contactingaqualified
moldtestingcompanyisrecommended.TheHomeTeamcanprovidetheseservicesuponrequest.
Theinspectedpropertyconsistedofacolonialwoodframedstructurewithstuccothatwasvacantatthetimeofthe
inspection.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsonthevisualportionsofthesiding.
Theapproximatetemperatureatthetimeoftheinspectionwas70-75degreesFahrenheit,andtheweatherwassunny
andclear.Theutilitieswereonatthetimeoftheinspection.
Thehomewassituatedonalightlyslopedlot.Thegeneralgradearoundthehomeappearedtobeadequatetodirect
rainwaterawayfromthefoundation.Theageofthehome,asreportedbytheMLSsheet,wassaidtobe104years
old.
Therewasaconcretewalkwayleadingtoaconcretefrontentrywayinthefrontofthehome.Therewerenomajor
visualdefectsobservedinthewalkwayorthefrontentryway.
remediationofstucco
Minorcrackingofstucco
Remediationtosiding/soffit
Page2of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
Itwaspointedoutthatthereweresignsofrecentremediationtothesidingandtrim.Monitoringforcracks
andrepairingpromptlywassuggestedtohelppreventdeteriorationofthestucco.
Itwaspointedoutthatthereweretreesandorvegetationnearorincontactwiththehomeatthetimeof
inspection.Cuttingbackthegrowthwasrecommended.
Itwasnotedthatthefrontstepswereofdifferentheights.Thisisapotentialtriphazard.Repairsare
recommended.
DECKS
Therewasawooddecklocatedinthebackofthehome.Theredidnotappeartobesignificantdeteriorationofthe
wood.Awooddeckshouldbecleanedandsealedregularlytopreventdeterioration.Therewerenomajorvisual
defectsobservedonthevisibleportionsofthedeckorsupportstructure.
Page3of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
ROOFSTRUCTURE
Theroofwasagableandvalleydesigncoveredwithasphalt/fiberglassshingles.Observationoftheroofsurfacesand
flashingwasperformedfromgroundlevelwiththeaidofbinoculars.Theageoftheroofcovering,asreportedbythe
buyer,wasapproximately10years.Thereweremultiplelayersofshinglesontheroofatthetimeoftheinspection.
Therewasminimalcurlingandmoderatesurfacewearobservedontheroofshinglesatthetimeoftheinspection.
Theseconditionsindicatetheroofshinglesinthesecondhalftheirusefullife.
Thisvisualroofinspectionisnotintendedasawarrantyoranestimateontheremaininglifeoftheroof.Anyroof
metal,especiallytheflashingandvalleys,mustbekeptwellpaintedwithapaintspeciallyformulatedfortheuse.There
werenomajorvisualdefectsdetectedontheexterioroftheroof.
Itwasnotedthattherewererepairstotherearvalleyoftheroofatthetimeofinspection.Thisareadidnot
appeartobeleaking.Arooferwouldbeagoodresourceforadvisementhere.
Therewasonechimney.Observationofthechimneyexteriorwasmadefromtheground,withtheaidofbinoculars.
Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedontheexterior.
Theroofdrainagesystemconsistedofaluminumguttersanddownspouts,whichappearedtobefunctionalbutinneed
ofrepairatthetimeoftheinspection.Guttersanddownspoutsshouldreceiveroutinemaintenancetoprevent
prematurefailure.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedonthevisibleportionsoftheguttersordownspouts.
Missingdownspout
FOUNDATION
Thefoundationwasconstructedofconcreteblock.Asingleinspectioncannotdeterminewhethermovementofa
foundationhasceased.Anycracksshouldbemonitoredregularly.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedon
thevisibleportionsofthefoundation.
Therewereseveralminor,hairlinecracksobservedonthefoundation.Thecrackswere1/16-inchorlessinwidth.
Thesecracksdidnotappeartohaveanystructuralsignificanceatthetimeoftheinspection.
Page4of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
BASEMENT(LOWERLEVEL)
Thepartialbasementpluscrawlspacewasunfinished,andcontainedthefollowingmechanicalsystems:furnaceand
waterheater.
Critterden
Itwasnotedthatthetherewaswhatappearedtobeapastorpresentcritterdenonthefrontofthe
basement.Patchingtheholeinthewallwassuggested.
Itwasnotedthattherewasevidenceofwoodrotonthebasementwalls.Thesewallarenotstructural.
Thebasementwasmostlydryatthetimeoftheinspection.However,thereweresomesignsofpastmoisture
infiltrationonthebasementwallsandfloor,especiallyinthecorners.Propergradingandguttermaintenancewill
helpreducemoistureinthebasement.Becausethebasementisbelowgrade,thereexistsavulnerabilitytomoisture
penetrationafterheavyrains.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedinthebasement.
Page5of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
FLOORSTRUCTURE
Thevisiblefloorstructureconsistedofatongueandgroovesubfloor,supportedbytwo-inchbyten-inchwoodjoist
spacedsixteeninchesoncenter.Therewasa4x8-inchcenterbeamandfour-inchsteelpostsorpiersforload
bearingsupport.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedinthevisibleportionsofthefloorstructure.
Supportpost
Itwasnotedthattherewerecorroded/rustedsupportpostsinthebasement.Replacementofthepostsis
recommended.
PLUMBING
Thevisiblewatersupplylinesthroughoutthehomewereplasticandcopperpipe.Thewaterwassuppliedbyapublic
watersupply.Thevisiblewastelinesconsistedofcopper,castiron,andPVCpipe.Thehomewasconnectedtoa
publicsewersystem.Allplumbingfixturesnotpermanentlyattachedtoahouseholdappliancewereoperatedand
inspectedforvisibleleaks.Waterflowthroughoutthehomewasaverage.Waterpressurewastestedinthekitchen
andfoundtobeadequate.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedinthevisibleportionsoftheplumbingsystem.
Itwasnotedthattheutilitytubwasnotsecureandinpoorcondition.Replacingthetubwasdiscussedat
theinspection.
Thewatermeterwaslocatedinthebasement.Themainwatershutoffvalveforthehomewaslocatedadjacenttothe
waterserviceentrypointinthebasement.
Thegasmeterwaslocatedinthebasement.Althoughnoactualtestingwasperformedtodetectthepresenceofgas
fumes,therewasnonoticeableodorofgasdetectedatthetimeoftheinspection.Ifthereareflexiblegaslinesina
homeitisnowrequiredinsomemunicipalitiesthatthistypeofgaslinebebonded(Grounded).
Page6of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
Behindstove
Inbasementfordryer
Itwasnotedthattherewereopengaslinesinthehome.Cappingthegaslinesisrecommendedforsafety
reasons.
Therewasa30-galloncapacity,naturalgaswaterheaterlocatedinthebasement.Thewaterheaterwas
manufacturedbyA.O.Smith.Informationonthewaterheaterindicatedthatitwasmanufactured12yearsago.A
temperatureandpressurereliefvalve(T&P)waspresent.Becauseofthelimebuild-uptypicalofT&Pvalves,wedo
nottestthem.Anoverflowlegwaspresent.Itshouldterminateclosetothefloor.Yoursafetydependsonthepresence
ofaT&Pvalveandanoverflowlegterminatingclosetothefloor.Thewaterheaterwasfunctional.
Itwasnotedthattherewaswaterontheflooraroundwaterheateratthetimeofinspection.Further
evaluationisneededastherewasalsoafloordrainnearthewaterheater.Thesourceofthewatercouldnot
beconfirmedattheinspection.Contactingaplumberforadvisementandrepairsasneededwas
recommended.
ELECTRICSERVICE
Theoverheadelectricservicewireenteredthehomeontheleftsidewall.Theelectricmeterwaslocatedonthe
exteriorwall.TheservicewireenteredaMurrayservicepanel,locatedonthebasementwallwitha100ampand
120/240voltratedcapacity.Thebranchcircuitswithinthepanelwerecopper.Thesebranchcircuitsandthecircuit
breakertowhichtheywereattachedappearedtobeappropriatelymatched.Thevisiblehousewiringconsisted
primarilyoftheromextypeandappearedtobeingoodcondition.Itisrecommendedthatanynecessaryorsuggested
repairsbeperformedbyalicensedelectrician.
Arepresentativenumberofinstalledlightingfixtures,switches,andreceptacleslocatedthroughoutthehomewere
inspectedandwerefoundtobefunctional.Thegroundingandpolarityofreceptacleswithinsixfeetofplumbing
fixtures,andthoseattachedtogroundfaultcircuitinterrupters(GFCI),ifpresent,werealsotested.AllGFCI
receptaclesandGFCIcircuitbreakersshouldbetestedmonthly.ThereweresomeGFCIprotectedcircuitslocatedin
thehome.ThepresentandtestedGFCIswerefunctional.Allnon-functionalGFCIsshouldbereplacedwithfunctional
GFCIs.InstallingGFCI'snearallwatersorcesisrecommended.
Page7of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
Anyopenelectricalboxesshouldbecoveredforsafetyreasons.Therewerealsotwoprongedelectric
receptaclesinthehome.Thesereceptaclesareconsideredoutdated.Upgradingtogrounded,threepronged
receptaclesissuggested.
Theelectricalserviceappearedtobeadequate.Alarms,electronickeypads,remotecontroldevices,landscape
lighting,telephoneandtelevision,andallelectriccompanyequipmentwerebeyondthescopeofthisinspection.There
werenomajorvisualdefectsobservedintheelectricalsystem.
SMOKEALARMS
Therewassmokealarmsfoundinthehouse.Forsafetyreasons,thesmokealarmsshouldbetestedupon
occupancy.Thebatteries(ifany)shouldbereplacedwithnewoneswhenyoumoveintothehouse,andtestedona
monthlybasisthereafter.
Page8of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
WINDOWS,DOORS,WALLSANDCEILINGS
Arepresentativenumberofaccessiblewindowsanddoorswereoperatedandfoundtobefunctionalbutinpoor
condition.Theprimarywindowswereconstructedofwood,doublehungstyle,withsinglepaneglass.Allexteriordoors
wereoperatedandfoundtobefunctional.Theexteriordoorlocksshouldbechangedorre-keyeduponoccupancy.
Possibleproblemareasmaynotbeidentifiedifthewindowsordoorshavebeenrecentlypainted.Therewereno
majordefectsobservedinthewindowsordoors.
Therewerestairsinthehomethatdidnothavehandrailsorproperhandrails.Allstairsshouldhavehand
railsforsafetyreasons.
Basementdoor
Itwasnotedthattheexteriorbasementdoorwasinpoorconditionatthebottom.
Therewereseveralwindowsinthehomethatwerepaintedshut,hardtoopenorhadmissingordamaged
counterweightmechanisms.Thisisapotentialsafetyhazard.Repairsarerecommended.Awindowcompany
wouldbeagoodresourcehere.
Page9of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
Theinteriorwallandceilingsurfaceswerefinishedwithplaster.Possibleproblemareasmaynotbeidentifiedifthe
interiorwallandceilingsurfaceshavebeenrecentlypainted.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedinthe
interiorwallsorceilings.
FIRSTLEVEL
Thefirstlevelconsistedofakitchen,diningroom,livingroom,twobedroomsandafullbath.TheHomeTeaminspects
forevidenceofstructuralfailureandsafetyconcernsonly.Thecosmeticconditionofthepaint,wallcovering,
carpeting,windowcoverings,etc.,arenotaddressed.Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedonthefirstlevel.
Therewerestairsinthehomethatdidnothaveproperhandrails.Allstairsshouldhavehandrailsforsafety
reasons.
Thevisibleportionsofthecabinetsandcountertopswereinserviceablecondition.Theapplianceswereturnedonto
checkoperationalfunctiononly.Nowarranty,expressorimplied,isgivenforthecontinuedoperationalintegrityofthe
appliancesortheircomponents.Thekitchencontainedthefollowingappliances:
TheKenmorenaturalgasfreestandingrangewasinspectedanddidnotappeartobefunctional.Theaccuracyof
theclock,timersandsettingsonovensarenotwithinthescopeofthisinspection.
TheFrigidairerefrigeratorwasinspectedanddidappeartobefunctional.Thetemperaturesettingisnotwithinthe
scopeoftheinspection.Itwasnotedthattheredidnotappeartobeawatersupplytotheicemakerinthe
freezer.
TheWhirlpooldishwasherwasobservedthroughacycleanddidnotappeartobefunctional(Nowater)whenset
onthe"wash"and"drain"cycle.
Page10of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
TheNutonerangehoodwasinspectedanddidappeartobefunctional.Theexhaustcapacityisnotwithinthescopeof
thisinspection.Cleaningthefanandfiltermayincreasetheexhaustcapability.
TheIn-Sink-Eratordisposalwasinspectedanddidappeartobefunctional.Theefficiencyratingisnotwithinthescope
oftheinspection.
SECONDLEVEL
Thesecondlevelofthehomeconsistedofthreebedroomsandonefullbath
Therewerenomajorvisualdefectsobservedonthesecondlevel.
FIREPLACE
Therefireplaceinthehome.Thevisualconditionatthetimeoftheinspectionisindicatedasfollows.
Forsafetyreasons,itwasrecommendedthatthefireplaceandthechimneytowhichitisventedshouldbecleaned
andre-inspected,astheremaybehiddendefects,notfullyvisibleatthetimeoftheinspection.Thefireplacewasnot
testedforoperationorfunction.
ATTICSTRUCTURE
Theatticwasaccessedthroughadoorinthe2ndfloorhallway.Theatticabovethelivingspacewasinsulatedwith
loose-fillinsulation,approximately4to6-inchesindepth.VentilationthroughouttheatticwasprovidedbyNoventing,,,,
vents.Theroofstructureconsistedoftwo-inchbysix-inchwoodraftersspaced24inchesoncenterandspaced
sheathing.
Becauseoftheconfigurationoftheframing,whichlimitedaccess,itwasnotpossibletoinspectallareasoftheattic.
Therewasnomoisturevisibleintheatticspace.Theabsenceofvisibleindicationsofmoistureisnotnecessarily
conclusiveevidencethattheroofisfreefromleaks.Theonlywaytobesurearoofdoesnotleakistoinspectthe
undersideoftheroofduringaheavyrain.Therewasevidenceofpastmoistureinfiltration.Therewerenomajorvisual
defectsobservedintheatticorroofstructure.
Page11of12
FileNumber:SAMPLEREPORT
AddressofInspection:1234FifthStreet
HEATINGUNITREPORT
Theheating,systemwasinspectedbyTheHomeTeam.Annualmaintenanceoftheheatingequipmentisessentialfor
safeandefficientperformance,whichwillmaximizethesystem'susefullife.
Theresultsofourvisualandoperationalinspectionoftheheatingsystemaredescribedbelow.Periodicpreventive
maintenanceisrecommendedtokeepthisunitingoodworkingcondition.ThehomewasheatedbyaDunkirknatural
gasboiler,which,isapproximately9yearsold.Theunitwaslocatedinthebasementofthehome.Ithasan
approximatenetheatingcapacityof187,500BTUH.
NOTE:Withoutremovingtheburnerstogaincompleteaccess,andwiththelimitedviewingareaoftheheat
exchanger,athoroughinspectionisnotpossible.
Theheatingsystemwasfoundtobefunctionalbutdirty
Dirtybolier
DUCTWORK
Airflowthroughoutthehousemaybebalancedbyadjustinganydampersinthesupplyducts,orbyadjustingthe
supplyregisters.
CONTROLS
Thecontrolfortheheatingandairconditioningsystemwasa24-voltthermostatlocatedonaninteriorwallofthe
home.ThethermostatwasmanufacturedbyHoneywellandwasfoundtobeinworkingorder.
Page12of12