Tag: cheap home inspection in yakima

WHAT SHOULD A HOME INSPECTION INCLUDE?

Home Inspection YakimaSource: A-Pro® Home Inspection Service since 1994

A Home inspection can vary depending on the type of home you are considering. In any case, the home inspector should describe all systems and visually inspect each system and component to make sure it’s functioning correctly at the time of inspection. The following is a basic outline of the systems and components a home inspector should inspect. You can also use this as a buyer or seller checklist to help you evaluate properties you are considering selling or purchasing.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaFOUNDATION: The foundation is the most critical element of a house as it carries the load of all other systems and components. A level foundation is necessary because if the foundation is not level the problems will only get worse compounding other defects over time. Therefore, the home inspector should perform a foundation level survey to make sure the foundation is within ordinarily acceptable tolerances for a home of its age and location.
The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaSTRUCTURE: A home’s fixed structures of wood, brick, or other material should be airtight to shield weather and others elements from penetrating the interior as well as hold up to gravity and movement of the earth. Structural components and the framing, should be inspected by the Home Inspector for proper installation and note if any modifications and or defects are visible.

The Best Home Inspectors in Yakima ROOFING: A roof should protect a home from moisture intrusion caused by rain, snow and inclement weather. The home inspector should inspect the overall roof’s condition, the skylight, if applicable, and chimneys. The home inspector should also note the roof’s approximate age, inspect all the flashing, drainage systems (inspect for evidence of ponding water), buckled, cracked or damaged shingles as well as the gutter systems and downspouts.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaEXTERIOR: The home inspector should inspect all walkways, patios, decks, balconies, driveways, siding, porches, steps, windows, and doors. A home inspector will also inspect the siding and trim to make sure it is keeping the home weatherproof. Excess moisture in a home can lead to mold and water damage. The lot drainage is also essential and should drain water away from the foundation.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaFIREPLACES: The home inspector should inspect the fireplace(s) is properly installed and maintained. The home inspector should examine the vent and flue, and describe solid fuel burning appliances.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaELECTRICAL: The home inspector should check to make sure the electrical system is safe. He should inspect the condition of main service entrance wires, all service panels, breakers, fuses, and disconnects. Also inspect all outlets in each room to make sure they’re wired correctly and are functional.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaHEATING: The inspector should inspect all of the home’s heating system(s), venting system, flues, and chimneys. The inspector should also note whether the size of the heating system(s) are adequate for the size of the house.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaAIR CONDITIONING: The home inspector should inspect the home cooling system(s), the energy source, and inspect the central and through-wall system equipment. The age of the system(s) is essential as well since all systems have limited life-expectancy.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaPLUMBING: The home inspector should inspect the home’s water supply and drainage systems, and fuel storage systems. The inspector will also inspect the water heater(s) to make sure they’re functioning properly as well as note the age and condition of the system(s). Drainage pumps and sump pumps should be inspected as well. Poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust, or corrosion can all be indicative of possible plumbing system problems.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaINTERIORS: The home inspector should inspect, walls, ceilings, floors, Garage doors and garage door openers, steps, stairways, railings, countertops and cabinets. The interior home inspection can reveal plumbing leaks, moisture damage, insect damage, wood rot and much more.

The Best Home Inspectors in YakimaVENTILATION/INSULATION: The home inspector should inspect for adequate insulation and ventilation in the attic and in unfinished areas such as basements and crawlspaces. Also, a home inspector should inspect for proper, insulation in walls wherever possible. Insulation should be appropriate for the areas climate.

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Have Your Home’s Structure Checked Before You Buy

No Bones About It…Have Your Home’s Structure Checked Before You Buy

When it comes to home-shopping, it’s easy to be blinded by outside appearances: a sparkling paint job, a manicured lawn, a nostalgic white picket fence. Yes, nice touches with knockout curb appeal, but you know the old adage: All that glitters…

Just as a doctor will request an X-ray, so, too, should a home-buyer contract a certified inspector to examine the bones of the home to determine the strength and stability behind its pristine façade. Complete 500-point home inspections, like those done at A-Pro, include a visual assessment of the home’s skeleton, including the foundation and floor, wall, ceiling, and roof structures. Structural deficiencies are noted in the detailed inspection report.

Here are five structural issues commonly found by the certified inspectors at A-Pro in Yakima:

Roof Truss Problems: Truss failure may result in the roof not being able to withstand excessive loads of wind and snow. Your inspector may discover bracing problems (missing nails, the absence of necessary bracing, poor grade lumber, etc.); removed or cut web members; improperly installed trusses; torn out or buckled connector plates; cracked members; and “trust lift,” a condition caused by seasonally-induced expansion and contraction of lumber.

Sagging Ceiling: A sagging ceiling may indicate a sinking or shifting foundation, especially if it’s accompanied by foundation cracks, hard-to-open doors and windows, and tell-tale cracks in upper walls. Other possible causes may be an inadequate support structure (i.e., joists too far apart, missing beams, or frame too small to handle the load), water pooling atop the ceiling due to a leak, or termites feasting on load-bearing beams.

Sagging/Sloping Floors: Sagging or sloping wood floors can be an indication of a number of issues. These include a shifting or sinking foundation, rotting or termite-infested beams and joists, poorly executed structural cuts to make room for plumbing or wiring and ill-advised removal of supports for home renovation projects.

Foundation Cracks: The inspector will carefully examine the basement’s poured concrete or concrete block walls for cracks, which can be a sign of foundational problems depending on their location, type (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and severity. While many cracks are harmless, some fissures can blossom into indicators that the home has serious foundation damage. This is particularly true of horizontal cracks that can form due to constant pressure against the sides of the walls. Most important, even small cracks will need to be carefully monitored to see if they are widening or spreading.

Drywall and Plaster Cracks: The majority of cracks in drywall and plaster—running vertically or horizontally along the drywall seam or at joints—pose only a cosmetic annoyance to the homeowner. Diagonal cracks are a different matter. If accompanied by other indicators of structural problems (foundation cracks, bowed walls, sagging roof, etc.), wall cracks add another layer of evidence that the problem may be more than cosmetic in nature. When the cracks appear over doorways, windows, or where walls meet ceilings, there is even great cause for concern.

A-Pro Home Inspection of Yakima WAA structural inspection is just one part of an A-Pro 500-point home inspection. To hire a certified local A-Pro home inspector in Yakima, call now 1-509-731-4992 .

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Four Ways a Home Inspection Can Save You a Ton of Money

Four Ways a Home Inspection Can Save You a Ton of Money

Cheap Home Inspection Yakima

Four Ways an Yakima home Inspection Can Save You a Ton of Money

If you’re like many people navigating the housing market, you’ve seen your share of the good, the bad, and the ugly when scrutinizing potential candidates for your dream home. So when you finally view a property that meets everything on your “must have” list, there can be a tendency to prematurely proclaim, “Done deal! Where do we sign?”

The Best Home Inspection In YakimaOur advice: Take off the rose-colored glasses and call an experienced home inspection company. A comprehensive, 500-point third-party visual examination of the home’s major systems will give you a complete picture of what you’re getting into, without your emotions getting in the way.

With a detailed inspection report in hand, you can make decisions with confidence and avoid unwanted surprises before you mount the family “Home Sweet Home” cross-stitch above the mantle. Here are four areas (there are many more) that demand the expertise of a certified home inspector:

The Best Home Inspectors In YakimaRoof: Roof repairs can put a significant dent in a homeowner’s wallet, while a new roof—depending on the material used and complexity—can end up costing many thousands of dollars. With this in mind, your inspector will assess the roof’s age, condition, and if immediate repairs or replacement is necessary. Missing or damaged shingles (loosened, buckled, curled, etc.), inadequate chimney flashing, and other problems will be noted. Further, an inspection of the attic may reveal water stains on walls and wood supports, evidence of roof leakage.

The Best Home Inspectors In YakimaPlumbing System: To the untrained eye, a plumbing system may appear to be working fine. But don’t trust your instincts alone when water—a home’s worst enemy—is at work. A burst pipe that causes significant flooding can bring astronomical restoration costs, or, in worst cases, leave the home uninhabitable.

Your inspector will check interior water supplies and distribution systems; interior drain, waste, and vent systems; water heating equipment; and other plumbing concerns. The home inspector will also report on the type of interior plumbing materials (e.g., older galvanized pipes can release harmful lead as they erode), water heating materials, and location of main water and fuel shut-off valves.

The Best Home Inspectors In YakimaSewer: Damaged and clogged sewer lines can nail homeowners with unpleasant surprises: backed-up water and raw sewage in the home, a significant rise in sewer bills due to a leak in the main line, and budget-busting repair and replacement costs. Even without digging, an inspector can identify signs of sewer line issues. These include standing water in the yard, sunken grass or lush patches, backed-up water from a toilet or drain, slow drains with gurgling noises, and sewer gas odors.

While not part of the main home inspection, some companies, like A-Pro, offer a “sewer scope” service. This entails inspecting the main line by inserting a small camera to check for tree roots, hairline cracks, holes, pipe separation, pooling water, heavy grease buildup, and corrosion deposits (scaling) in cast-iron pipes.

The Best Home Inspectors In YakimaElectrical System: Faulty or outdated electrical wiring poses a double threat—thousands of dollars in replacement costs and a severe shock and fire hazard. Often in older homes, the inspector will find amateurish and inconsistent wiring, or dangerous knob and tube wiring that should be replaced.

Among other things, your home inspector will visually check the service drop; service grounding; service main disconnects; service entrance conductors, cables, and raceways; the many components inside the service panel; the quality of workmanship inside the service panel and subpanels; overcurrent protection devices; lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles; and ground fault circuit interrupters and arc fault circuit interrupters.

The above represents only a small part of an A-Pro 500-point home inspection.

Schedule a home inspection in YakimaTo hire a certified local A-Pro Yakima home inspector, call 1-509-731-4992.

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