Buyer’s Benefits
Simply put, an impartial professional home inspection identifies the operating condition of the home. Regardless of how a home looks on the outside, there may be underlying issues that need to be identified. Home inspections can
Water heater turns into a rocket.
protect the buyer and the seller. Many well-intentioned sellers are unaware of the condition of functional components of the home. Problems may develop over time that can go un-noticed by even the most meticulous homeowner. We give you an honest, unbiased evaluation of the home.
Our inspectors are trained to examine the heating and cooling systems, roof, chimney, electrical system, foundation, basement and/or crawlspace, ventilation, water intrusion, siding, exhaust, drainage and many other systems in the home. We use state-of-the-art testing equipment such as Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras, moisture meters, combustible gas detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and Infrared thermometers.
Is it worth it? Take our quick survey and find out.
Inspectors working for The San Diego Real Estate Inspection Company inspect properties in accordance with the Standards of Practice of CalNACHI and our inspection agreement which are listed on this website. Items that are excluded (not inspected)
Our report is presented in an easy to read format, complete with color photos. The report is also sent via e-mail immediately upon conclusion of the inspection (assuming inspection agreement and payment have been submitted). Some reports may take extra time if the house is in extreme dis-repair or very large.
Note: Mold determination is not part of a general home inspection. If we identify any moisture related problems in our report, you should take it upon yourself to consider having the home tested for the presence of mold prior to the end of your contingency period.
Schedule a mold test today by calling us at (760) 203-9682.
A professional inspection should identify items such as:
Health and Safety
- Moisture problems in the roof (disconnected bathroom vents, minor leaks, improper insulation)
- Health hazards (disconnected flues, cracked chimneys, loose wires, carbon monoxide hazards)
- Proper wiring (correct installation of new circuits, properly protected receptacles in kitchens and baths)
- Pool safety (adequate fencing, proper wiring around pool, equipment wiring)
- Smoke detectors (placement, functionality)
- Modifications (improper use of attic space, dangerous wiring practices, un-permitted additions)
- Trip hazards (uneven walkways, exposed plumbing/conduit)
- Security (door locks, windows, garage doors, exterior lighting)
Structural Integrity
- Condition of the insulation (too little, too much, improperly installed, disturbed)
- Attic modifications (cut trusses, blocked vents/soffits, minor leaks)
- Balconies (evidence of deterioration at structural members, railings)
- Foundation/slab (settling, major cracking, deterioration)
- Masonry (delamination, improper flashing, cracks, chimneys)
- Subfloors (Posts and piers, truss damage, plumbing leaks)
- Roof (flashing, condition, gutters, dry rot, cracked tiles)
- Overall soundness (condition of windows, doors, drywall, floors)
- Water intrusion (irrigation over-spray, drainage, leaks)
Functionality
- Appliances (properly wired, operational, condition)
- Heating and Air Conditioning (Thermostats, heat exchangers, AC units, proper ducting)
- Adequate wiring (receptacle in each room, properly installed circuit breakers, lighting)
- Plumbing (water supply, water heater, drainage, venting)
- Doors/windows (fit and function, locks, skylights, vents
Home inspectors are not required to be licensed in the State of California and are defined as “Generalists,” whereas specialists such as plumbers and electricians are not only required to be licensed but have a greater knowledge of codes and practices related to their trades. Generalists are like general practitioners who have learned a great deal about medicine and the human body but who have not specialized in one particular area and defer to specialists when the need arises.
A generalist inspection is essentially visual and does not include the dismantling of equipment, or the sampling of air and inert materials. Consequently, a generalist inspection and report will not be as comprehensive or technically exhaustive as that by a specialist, and it is not intended to be. In fact, the purpose of a generalist inspection is to identify significant defects or adverse conditions that warrant an evaluation by a specialist. Therefore, please be aware of the limitations of this type of inspection.
As a generalist, we are specifically prohibited by state law from commenting on damage caused by termites and other wood-destroying organisms, which is the responsibility of a state-licensed pest control expert and commonly mandated as a condition of sale and usually scheduled and paid for by the sellers. More importantly, as generalists we do not take air samples and do not have the authority to test for and/or identify environmental contaminants, such as radon, asbestos, lead-based paint, illegal drugs or the chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs, and mold, to mention the most common ones. If you are buying a home built before 1979 you may wish to have it tested for environmental contaminants by a specialist, and particularly tested for the presence of lead which was widely used in paint before 1979. For all of these reasons, it is important that you read the entire report and schedule the appropriate specialist inspections when we indicate the need for services or a second opinion.
Lastly, generalist inspections do not include any research whatsoever (such as verifying square footage or the issuance of permits), and are not to establish code-compliance. It is important that you understand this, and particularly if the residence that you are buying happens to be older than 15 years, because it will not conform to many current codes. Codes vary from year to year, and the vast majority of them are not retroactive. For example, the National Electric Code (NEC) is not retroactive, but generalists will commonly recommend electrical upgrades in the interest of safety, and that is as it should be. Therefore, please read your report very carefully and take whatever action is recommended.
