Whole House Services

Our Whole House Inspection is performed in accordance with American Society of Home Inspectors' (ASHI) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. This inspection is designed to find major structural defects. However, we try to include in our report any items that require maintenance or items of questionable concern.

The inspection starts on the roof if accessible. We can get on to most two-story roofs. We inspect all flashings, downspouts, gutters, and roof penetrations. While outside, we walk around the exterior, thoroughly inspecting the cladding, such as brick or vinyl siding; windows, doors, driveways, sidewalks, outside electrical outlets, decks, patios, and the general lay of the land.

The basement inspection includes looking at all foundation walls and framing members of the house. This includes entering into crawl spaces if accessible and do not pose a danger to the inspector. We also inspect visible fresh or wastewater plumbing along with any gas piping. The basement inspection goes further with a heating and air conditioning examination. If your home uses gas fuel, the inspector tests for carbon monoxide and also the visible section of the heat exchanger. If the house uses an electric furnace or heat pump, we test the heating elements, including any backup or emergency heat for proper resistance on the element.

When checking the electric, we take off the main panel cover. Inside we carefully look to make sure that wires are sized properly, and to see that the panel is bonded and grounded properly. We also look for signs of overheating and the presence of aluminum wiring.

The inspection of the interior of the house checks the condition of doors, windows, and electrical outlets. Paying close attention to the walls and ceilings, we look for signs of cracking and water damage that would indicate a possibility of structural damage. A thorough interior inspection also includes checking kitchens and bathrooms particularly well and testing fixtures and appliances that stay with the house.

If the attic is accessible, we check the underside of the roof sheeting, the framing members, insulation, and ventilation.

At the conclusion of the inspection, H-I-S provides customers with two copies of their easy-to-read written report.