Inspecting a winterized/foreclosed home does not entail a different inspection report or different inspection procedures compared to a lived-in home. Yet there are definitely issues that can arise in a winterized/foreclosed home that you typically will not come across in a lived in home, for obvious reasons.
When inspectors test a home for volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that in higher volumes can contribute to health problems inside homes, they should consider the unhealthy effects of fragrances of any kind and natural substances, such as citrus or pine, according to Blazovsky.
Inexperienced inspectors might fall into a trap of saying something’s not right in an old home because that’s not how we do it today. But the reality is that historic homes are very different and those differences aren’t necessarily bad.
I looked at the east, west, and south walls and there weren't any apparent problems. However, when I got to the north wall it was completely covered with the seller's storage and personal property. Instead of assuming the north wall was in good shape like the other walls, I documented the fact the wall was not visible and not evaluated due to being blocked/ covered by the seller's property.
A successful home inspector is a business owner utilizing proven home inspection marketing tools and methods in order to promote the services that they offer to potential clients and referral sources.
You might not be able to see the entire roof, but a partial inspection is better than nothing. Be sure to disclaim what you did not see. Typically, you would either inspect or not inspect an individual roof face. If it is only partially visible, record it as not visible.
A more recent trend, Kuffa noted, is the home sellers inspection. Consumers are becoming more savvy when it comes to real estate. They know that to get top dollar, they need to ensure that their homes have as few problems as possible before listing.
The main obstacle in reviewing the A/C is the outdoor temperature. As we all know, you should not operate an A/C unit (or heat pump in the cooling mode) when the outdoor temperature is below about 60°F or you risk damaging or “slugging” the compressor.
As a home inspector, it is important to understand the differences and procedures for the various types of roofs you will encounter as different types of roofs have different materials that the inspector needs to be familiar with.
Install a programmable thermostat that can reduce the heat at a specific time when you are away from home and raise the heat before you get back for dinner. Having the heat at a higher temperature when the home is not occupied by anyone is inefficient, so automatically having it raised and lowered at certain times will save time and money.
