WHAT WE INSPECT

All licensed home inspectors should follow a Standards of practice. It is a list of do’s and donts.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Standards of practice

Vermont & New Hampshire

ASHI Standards of Practice

Below is a list of some of the things we may inspect.

Exterior yard

  • Hardscaping – Patios, walls, walkways, driveways
  • Residence – siding, porches, decks, roof

Exterior structure

  • Walls & ceilings
  • Doors & windows
  • Roof surface
  • Foundation & footings
  • Fire code
  • Door openers
  • Structure

Roof structure

  • Structure
  • Rafters
  • Cricket flashing
  • Valleys
  • Chimney (exterior)
  • Attic ventilation
  • Interior halls
  • Insulation
  • Exhaust fans
  • Roof sheathing
  • Skylights
  • Exposed gutters & diverters
  • Flashing
  • Evidence of water penetration

Interior

  • Floor surfaces
  • Fireplaces
  • Visible chimney
  • Walls & ceilings
  • Wood/coal stoves
  • Doors
  • Windows, screens & Storms
  • Surface of tub and shower

Electrical

  • Emergency cut off switches
  • Size of electrical service
  • GFCI Plugs
  • Central heating wiring
  • Sump pump wiring
  • junction box covers
  • Service panel boxes
  • Interior house wiring (exposed)
  • Interior house fans
  • Doorbells & chimes
  • Central vac wiring
  • Service entry cables
  • Breaker panel fuses and breakers
  • Central AC wiring

Plumbing

  • Plumbing connections
    • Under vanitys
    • Toilet shutoff
    • Main shut off
    • Visible piping
  • Waste lines
  • Interior well pumps
  • Ejector pumps
  • Exhaust fans
  • Utility tubs
  • Bath tubs
  • Stall showers
  • Bath sinks
  • Supply lines
  • Evidence of corrosion
  • Toilets
  • Kitchen sinks
  • Bar sinks
  • Vent stacks
  • Shower stalls
  • Washer dryer connections
  • Bathroom electrical fixtures
  • Exposed water storage tanks

HVAC Systems

  • Boilers & Furnaces
  • Heat exchangers
  • Circulator pumps
  • Zone valves
  • Exposed flue
  • Gauges
  • Pipes
  • Electric convectors
  • Cast iron radiators
  • Humidifiers
  • Heaters (apartment)
  • Heat ducts
  • Electronic air purifier
  • Adjoining surfaces
  • Fire box liners
  • Water feeds
  • Gas stoves

Basement

  • Foundation walls
  • Water penetration
  • Headers
  • Sills
  • Sub floors
  • Bulkheads
  • Basement floors
  • Support columns
  • Floor joists
  • Exterior doors
  • Sump pumps