Tips for Home Inspection

Buying a home in Northern Virginia is one of the most important purchases you will make in your life, so you should be sure that the home you want to buy in Northern Virginia is in good condition. A Virginia home inspection is an evaluation of a home’s condition by a trained home expert.

During a home inspection, a qualified home inspector takes deep and impartial look at the property you plan to buy in Northern Virginia. Its findings could make a difference to both your current negotiations with the seller and your future Northern Virginia Home Maintenance budget.

The home Inspector will evaluate the physical condition, Identify items that should be repaired or replaced and Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment and structure of the house you are buying in Northern Virginia.

These are the general Home Inspection Checklist Items includes:

• Structural Elements
Construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof and foundation.

• Exterior Evaluation
Wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trim, doors, windows, lights and exterior receptacles.

• Roof and Attic
Framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing and gutters.

• Plumbing
Identification of pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste and vent pipes, toilets, showers, sinks, faucets and traps.

• Systems and Components
Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney and fireplace.

• Electrical
Main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans and light fixtures.

• Appliances
Dishwasher, range and oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal and smoke detectors.

• Garage
Slab, walls, ceiling, vents, entry, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows and roof.

After the inspection is complete, the inspector will write a report and send it to you for review. Home inspection reports do not describe the condition of every component if it’s in excellent shape, but should note every item that is defective or needing service.

Click Here to Get your Full Home Inspection Checklist in PDF