The Home Inspection Process

• Show About the Home Inspection Process
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)

ABOUT THE HOME INSPECTION PROCESS

A home inspection will take approximately 2 ½ to 5 hours to complete depending on size, age and condition of the property. The Prestigious Home Inspection Report includes photo documentation where applicable.

An in-depth, non-invasive, visual and physical examination of the properties systems and components according to the Standards of Practice and will be performed with pride, by an educationally trained, experienced, unbiased, insured, and Certified Inspector.

We encourage you to attend the inspection and we gladly anticipate answering your questions. We also realize that most people manage busy schedules, and cannot give up a few hours for the inspection. What most people do is attend a portion of the Prestigious Home Inspection, usually the last half hour or hour of the inspection. This way, you will be able to attend the presentation of the Inspection report, as well as ask questions and observe. Not Required.

The Prestigious Home Inspector is limited to performing two inspections per day. This is to ensure that the Prestigious Home Inspector can spend the proper amount of time on your home, answer your questions, and not be rushed to attend multiple appointments.

Follow-up support by e-mail or telephone, on any questions relating to the Prestigious Home Inspection, is available and included as part of our service commitment to you.

• Show About the Home Inspection Process
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)

PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS AND PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS

The Home Inspection starts on the outside, where the Prestigious Home Inspector examines the 'Grounds' of the property using a MICRO AND MACRO approach. The Systems and components that are observed and commented on include: the grading, walkways, driveway, patio, retaining walls, fencing, tress to close to home, and electrical.

The Prestigious Home Inspector then makes his way to the roof of the house (and garage if present) and will inspect the roofing materials, flashings, flues and penetrations, the valleys, eavestroughing, skylights and then any chimneys and systems and components related to the chimney. Where possible, the Prestigious Home Inspector sweeps away snow for a closer observation with in reason and only goes on roof if in the inspectors feels its safe to do so.

Next, the Prestigious Home Inspector examines the exterior of the home. The Prestigious Home Inspector will report on such things as: the foundation/coating, siding, trim, suffix/fascia, downspouts/extensions, windows/frames, electrical, hose bibs, decks, stairs, vents, balconies, covered/enclosed porches, and any other systems and components of the Standards of Practice.

If there is a garage on the property, the Prestigious Home Inspector will include this structure in the Inspection. The Prestigious Home Inspector will examine the roof and exterior of the garage, and report on it the same way as the house. Then, if the garage is accessible, the Prestigious Home Inspector will enter the garage and report on the interior components including: the floor, electrical, heating, interior walls, ceilings, doors, overhead doors, and motorized door openers, along with if there is a living space above the garage the Prestigious Home Inspector will inspect the gas proofing.

The Prestigious Home Inspector then proceeds to the interior of the house and starts at the attic. The Prestigious Home Inspector will report on: the framing/structure, roof sheathing, vapour barrier, insulation, ventilation, and any electrical devices.

The heating system is next to be inspected. The Prestigious Home Inspector will identify the type(s) of heating system(s) and observe: the heating unit(s), burner chamber(s), exhaust/venting system(s), distribution/ducting system(s), and thermostats.

The next system to be inspected is the water heater, where the tank, combustion chamber (if applicable), exhaust/venting system, supply/distribution piping, are all reported on.

The Prestigious Home Inspector then examines the visible plumbing for the house. The Prestigious Home Inspector will locate and report on the main water shut off valve, supply piping, waste/drain piping, venting, and if there is a sump pit, sump pump or a booster/ejector pump, these items will also be reported on.

• Show About the Home Inspection Process
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)

PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS AND PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS

Now the electrical system gets the attention of the Prestigious Home Inspector. The main electrical service is examined, followed by the main electrical panel and any sub panels. The Prestigious Home Inspector finishes this section by reporting on the general wiring or branch circuitry of the house.

The structure of the house now gets inspected. The Prestigious Home Inspector examines the visible and accessible components of the structure including: the foundation walls, foundation floor, posts/columns, beams, joists, sub floor, and framing. Where possible, the Prestigious Home Inspector uses a moisture meter to check stains and to seek moisture hidden behind finished walls/floors/ceilings. And at in extra cost can offer a thermal imagining inspections.

If the house is equipped with an air conditioning system, and outside air temperatures permit, the Prestigious Home Inspector will identify and operate this system and report any deficiencies.

The Prestigious Home Inspector then inspects the laundry area, and reports on the doors, floors, walls, ceiling, windows, cabinetry, counters, sinks/faucet/plumbing, electrical, washer hook-ups/drainage, and dryer hook-ups/venting.

Next, the Prestigious Home Inspector will inspect all of the bathrooms in the house. The Prestigious Home Inspector will examine: the doors, floors, walls, ceilings, closet(s), windows, electrical components, heating, cabinetry, counters, sinks, faucets, supply and drain piping, toilet, tub, tub surround, tub enclosure, tub tappet, shower head, shower base, shower surround, shower enclosure, and shower tapset. A moisture meter is used around the floor near toilets and on tiled tub/shower surrounds to check for moisture that may be actively penetrating the floor and walls at these areas.

The Prestigious Home Inspector now inspects every room in the house individually. This includes all bedrooms, living room, family room, dining room, recreation room, and the den/office. Each room will be reported in individually as well, and includes: doors, floors, walls, ceiling, windows, closets, cabinetry, electrical, and wet bar (if applicable).

If the house is equipped with a fireplace(s), the Prestigious Home Inspector will examine this too. The Prestigious Home Inspector will comment on the firebox, visible flue, damper, hearth, mantle, and screening.

• Show About the Home Inspection Process
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)
• Show Pre-Listing Inspections (Cont.)

PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS AND PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS

Any smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in the house are tested using their normal operating controls, and the Prestigious Home Inspector will make any recommendations in the report. The Prestigious Home Inspector also conducts carbon monoxide tests during the Inspection and reports CO levels measured at the heating equipment, water heater, heat register, gas fireplace, and gas stove (if equipped).

Here the Prestigious Home Inspector will inspect the doors, floors, walls, ceiling, pantry/closet, windows, electrical, cabinetry, counters, sinks, faucets, supply and drain piping, refrigerator/freezer, stove/cook top, oven, exhaust/hood fan, dishwasher, and trash compactor.

The Prestigious Home Inspection will conclude with the Prestigious Home Inspector performing a scan of the dwelling with an infrared camera. Any significant anomalies will be captured by the infrared camera as a 'thermogram' (picture), and the issues will be documented and described in the Inspection Report. Extra cost for thermal imaging inspection report. Preformed by qualified and certified Prestigious Home Inspector.

Pool and Spa inspections are very important when purchasing a new home with a pool or spa on the property; mainly because of the amount invested into the construction of the systems and components of the pool and spas. When the Prestigious Home Inspector performs an inspection on your pool or spa here is what the Prestigious Home Inspector is looking for, type of pool or spa construction, pool surfaces, tile, coping, decks, slides, steps, diving boards, drains, skimmers, valves, pool & spa lights if missing, not functional, not GFCI protected. The Prestigious Home Inspector shall also report on as in need of repair deficiencies: pumps, controls, sweeps (function, wiring), Heater, vent, clearance, gas piping, shut off valve, electrical grounding at pumps, blowers, leaks, filter, pressure gauges, fences, gates, enclosures and the conditions limiting or inhibiting inspection. Extra cost for this service.

At this time the Prestigious Home Inspector will sit down with the clients and go over the findings of the Inspection. The Prestigious Home Inspector is an unbiased, third party. It is important to remember that the findings in the report should not be interpreted negatively. There are many positive comments that can be made about any property; however, that is not the purpose of the Inspection. The report is designed to bring to your attention, items that may be in need of maintenance, repairs, or safety issues. The Prestigious Home Inspector will then answer any remaining questions that the clients may have. After this, the Prestigious Home Inspector will take the clients around the house to point out such things as plumbing shut-off valve locations, electrical panel, water heater, furnace, etc., and give a brief explanation of how the major systems operate, if the clients desire. Following that the Prestigious Home Inspector will conclude said service and email or hand deliver Inspection Reports to clients. Reports are the property of the client that hired Prestigious Home Inspections Inc. to perform the inspection; meaning that seller and agents do not get copies of inspections unless requested by Clients to do so at no extra cost. This is to secure client and inspector confidential information act, and to abide by the Standards of Practice.

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