This is where most inspections will start. The roof and exterior will keep the elements at bay and you comfortable.

For the roof, the inspection includes:

-The roof covering materials

-Gutters and downspouts

-Vents, flashing, skylights, chimney, and other roof penetrations

-General structure of the roof from readily accessible panels, doors or stairs.

-If access to the roof is difficult or unsafe, use of a camera pole will be used for the inspection.

The exterior inspection will include:

-The exterior wall-covering materials;

-The eaves, soffits and fascia;

-Windows;

-All exterior doors;

-Flashing and trim;

-Adjacent walkways and driveways;

-Stairs, steps, stoops, stairways and ramps;

-Porches, patios, decks, balconies and carports;

-Railings, guards and handrails; and

-Vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls and grading of the property, where they may adversely affect the structure due to moisture intrusion.

Depending on the home, there can be some problems that may not be immediately apparent found in the basement and crawlspace.

Depending on accessibility, your inspection will check for:

-The type of foundation; and

-The location of the access to the under-floor space.

-Observed indications of wood in contact with or near soil;

-Observed indications of active water penetration;

-Observed indications of possible foundation movement, such as sheetrock cracks, brick cracks, out-of-square door frames, and unlevel floors; and

-Any observed cutting, notching and boring of framing members that may, in the inspector's opinion, present a structural or safety concern.

A properly functioning heating and cooling system is crucial to making your home more comfortable to live in.

Depending on conditions and accessibility, your inspection will include:

-The location of the thermostat for the heating system;

-The energy source; and

-The heating method.

-Any heating system that did not operate; and

-If the heating system was deemed inaccessible.

-The location of the thermostat for the cooling system; and

-The cooling method.

-Any cooling system that did not operate; and -If the cooling system was deemed inaccessible.

Plumbing and electrical help make your home function the way you want it to. Inspecting the plumbing and electrical help make sure that your house functions the way it was intended.

Based on plumbing accessibility, your inspection will check for:

-The main water supply shut-off valve;

-The main fuel supply shut-off valve;

-The water heating equipment, including the energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief (TPR) valves, Watts 210 valves, and seismic bracing;

-Interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water;

-All toilets for proper operation by flushing;

-All sinks, tubs and showers for functional drainage;

-The drain, waste and vent system; and

-Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.

Based on accessibility of the electrical systeml, the inspection will look for:

-The service drop, and condition;

-The overhead service conductors and attachment point;

-The service head, gooseneck and drip loops;

-The service mast, service conduit and raceway;

-The electric meter and base;

-Service-entrance conductors;

-The main service disconnect;

-Panelboards and over-current protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses);

-Service grounding and bonding;

-A representative number of switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles, including receptacles observed and deemed to be arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)-protected using the AFCI test button, where possible;

-All ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacles and circuit breakers observed and deemed to be GFCIs using a GFCI tester, where possible; and

-For the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

The attic helps with keeping your house comfortable year round, if insulated properly. Also, issues in the roof can be identified with an inspection of the attic. If your house has a fireplace, inspecting it can identify problems that may arise in terms of energy efficiency and possible health issues.

The fireplace inspection will consist of:

-Readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys;

-Lintels above the fireplace openings;

-Damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable; and

-Cleanout doors and frames.

Depending on accessibility, the attic inspection will check for:

-Insulation in unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas;

-Ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas; and

-Mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area.

When inspecting the interior, I will be looking for any observable issues at the time of the inspection. Small problems could reveal larger unseen issues.

As the inspection progresses through the house, I will check:

-A representative number of doors and windows by opening and closing them;

-Floors, walls and ceilings;

-Stairs, steps, landings, stairways and ramps;

-Railings, guards and handrails; and

-Garage vehicle doors and the operation of garage vehicle door openers, using normal operating controls.