preparing the home

In order for us to give the best inspection possible please review the following pointers. Addressing most of the items on this page will help ensure the client receives a thorough and accurate inspection.

occupied home

• appliances - In order to perform an accurate evaluation of the appliances the home inspector requires free and clear access to the furnace, water heater, exterior air conditioning unit and the electrical panel.
• attic - The attic hatch should not be painted or sealed shut. Make sure there are not any shelves or stored items that will limit access. Some insulation will almost always fall out when entering a ceiling hatch therefore it is a great idea to either remove all clothes and stored items from the area or have them adequately covered.
• children - The most important item on the list. During the inspection we're working quickly and efficiently to finish in a reasonable timeframe. Covers are removed from the furnace, electrical panel, crawl space, etc. This presents a variety of hazards in the home that are not normally present. For safety reasons children MUST be properly supervised during the inspection.
• crawl space - Generally located in a closet, the hatch should be accessible without having to move items. The area around the hatch should be free and clear from all obstructions both to the sides and overhead. The hatch should be readily removable ie, not nailed closed.
• general access - If an area is not visible or not accessible it cannot be evaluated. These commonly include the areas under the kitchen and bathroom sinks in addition to the attic and garage.
• pets - For everyone's safety it's best to have all pets either removed from the property or be properly restrained prior to the inspection. This includes dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, etc. Either menacing, overly friendly or escape artists - all can be a distraction to the home inspectors.

unoccupied home

• Any relevant items from the prior section in addition to:
• utilities - Please ensure that the gas, water and electricity will be on at the time of the inspection. If one or more of the utilities are off the relevant components of the home cannot be inspected.
• When utilities are off - When any utilities are found to be off the inspector, due to liability reasons, is not permitted to turn them on or facilitate their being turned on. This is a standard across the inspection industry.