WHAT A FULL INSPECTION INCLUDES

As a New York State Licensed Home Inspector I shall adhere to the Industries Professionals Standards of Practice. This means I will attempt to inspect all of the following (when accessible):
 

Roof, vents, flashings, and trim   Gutters and downspouts   Skylight, chimney and other roof penetrations   Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings   Eaves, soffit and fascia   Grading and drainage   Basement, foundation and crawlspace   Water penetration and foundation movement   Heating systems   Cooling systems   Main water shut off valves

Water heating system   Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets   Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats   Electrical service line and meter box   Main disconnect and service amperage   Electrical panels, breakers and fuses   Grounding and bonding   GFCIs and AFCIs   Fireplace damper door and hearth   Insulation and ventilation   Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers

COMMERCIAL CONDITION REPORTING

Our commercial building, industrial and/or manufacturing facilities inspection services include apartment communities, retail stores, warehouse facilities, auto dealerships, hotel, motel, resort properties and office buildings. Each inspection includes review of the major operating systems, visible structural components, roofing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. On larger projects, inspections will be performed with a team of inspectors focusing on individual systems (Plumbers, Electricians, Roofers, HVAC Contractors, etc), all licensed in their particular field of expertise. Reports will be professionally packaged in a thorough and detailed manner so as to facilitate transaction needs and/or negotiations. Photographs of the property and areas of concern, complete reports, cover letter, copy of the inspection proposal and any addendums will be delivered in a timely manner.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?  Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

	Major defects, such as a structural failure.
	Things that lead to major defects, such as a small roof-flashing leak.
	Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.
	Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.