Home Inspection

Your inspection of the exterior drainage and grading includes evaluating the gutters and downspouts for proper drainage, grading around the perimeter of the home, patios, porches, decks, trees and bushes that can damage the home.

The first thing you learn in Air Force Engineering School is that the property must drain and it is the primary purpose of our exterior inspection. We are looking for anything that allows water to pool or direct water around the foundation. Trees and bushes need to be trimmed away from the exterior to prevent moisture buildup that leads to mold and wood-destroying insects from entering the home.

The roof, siding, windows and doors protect the interior of the home. These parts of the home including the foundation, retaining walls, siding, trim, windows, and chimneys protects the home the weather and its elements. We evaluate each of these for its condition, paying particular attention to its soundness, function and safety for you.

The roof and attic is the home’s first line of defense from rainwater and the sun’s heat. The roof is inspected by walking it for proper installation, wear and damage. Roofing problems that go undetected can cause serious problems like mold, damaged walls, or personal items.

Your inspector will explain the benefits of your roofing material used and any special maintenance required. The attic is often used for storage and sometimes finished for additional living space. An attic that is unfinished and accessible can be inspected for quality construction, insulation type and thickness, water penetration, venting, pest or rodent entry and exposed electrical hazards. Your inspector will enter the attic looking for signs that may indicate hidden problems as well as a safety concerns.

Fireplaces are wonderful supplements to the heating system, a comfy place to relax and an elegant location to entertain guest. No matter your planned use, we will ensure that it is safe and functional for you and your guest.

Inside living areas hold precious clues to the care and condition of finished areas and the underlying structure. As we walk the various rooms surveying walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors we look for cracking, termite activity, evidence of roof leakage, and indications of underlying structural deficiencies.

Your inspector will inspect each area including all visible and accessible areas of the house, including kitchen, bathrooms, closets and bedrooms. We often find settling in the floors and walls, roof or plumbing leaks at ceilings and poor outlet wirings during our inside living area inspection.

We inspect attached and detached garages. During the garage inspection we test GFCI outlets, auto-reverse on the garage door openers, a safe firewall, garage doors, lighting, foundation floor and walls for structural movement.

One of our common findings is the lack of insulation in the attic above the garage.

The electrical system often has hazards and improper wiring. The number of hazards found often increases as the age of the property increases and the number of times it has been worked on. The condition and complexity of the electrical system also has much to do with the number of issues found. The more upgrades to the home, the more time-consuming the electrical inspection will take.

Your electrical inspection includes checking every accessible electrical outlet and switch, lighting, exposed electrical wiring, and the removal of the electrical panel cover

The heating and cooling system creates a comfortable environment in the home. Whether you have a gravity feed boiler, oil burning heater or geothermal system we have seen them all. Each system has many components and there are also many different types systems. Your inspector inspects for safety and proper operation for you.

The plumbing system inspection includes operating every fixture, appliance, and evaluating every connected gas and water pipes. We inspect the service entering the property, accessible pipes throughout, venting and drainage. Your inspector often finds leaking pipes, dripping valves, clogged pipes, corrosion, switched hot and cold water knobs, and insufficient water or flow pressure.

No home inspection is complete without checking out the main structural support system in the basement or crawlspace. Your qualified inspector with Green America Home Inspections has the knowledge and experience to identify cosmetic damage from major structural deficiencies.