There's no argument that the new technology makes an inspector's job easier. However, some in the industry suggests taking caution when employing these devices because using them may be viewed as violating ASHI's standards of practice...
Home inspectors share common causes of on-the-job anxiety. Among those nail-biting situations: missing something big and the potential consequences; dealing with difficult clients and real estate agents; and drawing the line between what inspectors should and shouldn’t do.
During the inspection of the air conditioning system, the home inspector should identify the type of system and document all of the relevant information from the data plate, including the age, and should make a determination as to whether or not to operate the system.
One area of the electrical inspection in particular is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI). Depending on which state you live in or which inspection association’s standards of practice you are following, the majority of them address GFCI.
Turn up the thermostat so the flame kicks on. Evaluate the flame, which should burn mostly blue, or blue with some orange.
Improperly operating automatic reversing mechanisms on garage door openers have been linked to many injuries and even deaths. Making sure the safety reverse is operating properly is an important part of your home inspection.
Although asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material in the United States, another type of roofing material the home inspector may encounter is wood shingles or wood shakes.
Brick houses built since the early 1970’s are generally brick veneer over wood framing (or steel). A brick veneer wall does not carry the load of the structure; the house is holding up the brick. A home inspector can easily identify the signs of problems in brick veneer.
Good communication between the home inspector and real estate agent can often determine how smoothly a sale goes.
When a home inspector is inspecting the basement or crawlspace of a home, they may encounter something called a sump pump.
