Limitations: The following items or areas are not included in this inspection: areas that could not be traversed or viewed clearly due to lack of access; areas and components obscured by insulation. Any comments made regarding these items are made as a courtesy only. The inspector does not determine the adequacy of the attic ventilation system. Complete access to all roof and attic spaces during all seasons and during prolonged periods of all types of weather conditions (e.g. high/low temperatures, high/low humidity, high wind and rain, melting snow) would be needed to do so. The inspector is not a licensed engineer and does not determine the adequacy of roof structure components such as trusses, rafters or ceiling beams, or their spacing or sizing but will comment on their physical condition.

Limitations: The inspector performs a visual inspection of accessible components or systems at the exterior. The home inspector shall inspect wall cladding, flashing, trim entryway doors, a representative number of windows, garage door operators, decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches and applicable railings, eves, soffits, fascias, driveways patios, walkways, retaining walls, vegetation, grading and drainage. The inspector shall describe wall cladding, operate all entry doors, operate garage doors manually or with permanently installed controls, garage reverse function and probe exterior components where deterioration is suspected. . Some items such as siding, trim, soffits, vents and windows are often high off the ground, and may be viewed using binoculars from the ground or from a ladder. This may limit a full evaluation. Regarding foundations, some amount of cracking is normal in concrete slabs and foundation walls due to shrinkage and drying.

Items not included in this inspection per NC Administrative Code, Title 11, Chapter 8 are: storm windows, screening, shutters, awnings or similar seasonal accessories, fences, safety glass, garage door transmitters, geological conditions, soil conditions, spas, swimming pools, playground or other athletic facilities, the presence or condition of buried fuel storage tanks or detached buildings or structures.

Limitations: Unless specifically included in the inspection, the following items and any related equipment, controls, electric systems and/or plumbing systems are excluded from this inspection: detached buildings or structures; fences and gates; retaining walls; underground drainage systems, catch basins or concealed sump pumps; swimming pools and related safety equipment, spas, hot tubs or saunas; whether deck, balcony and/or stair membranes are watertight; trees, landscaping, properties of soil, soil stability, erosion and erosion control; ponds, water features, irrigation or yard sprinkler systems; sport courts, playground, recreation or leisure equipment; areas below the exterior structures with less than 3 feet of vertical clearance; invisible fencing; sea walls, docks and boathouses; retractable awnings. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only.

Limitations: The inspector shall inspect: roof coverings, roof drainage (gutters), flashing, skylights, chimneys, roof penetrations and sighs of leaks or condensations. The inspector shall describe the type of roof covering material and methods used to inspect.The following items or areas are not included in this inspection: areas that could not be traversed or viewed clearly due to lack of access; solar systems (heating or PV) components antennas or similar items. Any comments made regarding these items are made as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not provide an estimate of remaining life on the roof surface material, nor guarantee that leaks have not occurred in the roof surface, skylights or roof penetrations in the past. Regarding roof leaks, only active leaks with presence of moisture, visible evidence of possible sources of leaks, and evidence of past leaks observed during the inspection are reported on as part of this inspection. The inspector does not guarantee or warrant that leaks will not occur in the future. Complete access to all roof and attic spaces during all seasons and during prolonged periods of all types of weather conditions (e.g. high wind and rain, melting snow) would be needed to do so. Regarding the roof drainage system, unless the inspection was conducted during and after prolonged periods of heavy rain, the inspector was unable to determine if gutters, downspouts and extensions performed adequately or were leak-free.

Limitations: The home inspector shall inspect: Water supply and distribution systems, piping materials, supports and insulation;leaks and cross connections, interior drain lines, waste and vent system, including: traps, drain, waste and vent piping, piping supports leaks, functional drainage and sump pumps. The inspector shall describe: water supply, distribution, drain, waste and vent pipe materials , the location of any shutoff device.The home inspector is not required to operate automatic safety controls, operate any valves or shut off devices including turning on or off the main service valve.

Limitations: Evaluation of and determining the adequacy or completeness of the following items are not included in this inspection: water recirculation pumps; solar water heating systems; Energy Smart or energy saver controls; catch pan drains. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not provide an estimate of remaining life on water heaters, does not determine if water heaters are appropriately sized, or perform any evaluations that require a pilot light to be lit or a shut-off valve to be operated.

Limitations: The inspector shall inspect sinks, fixtures, faucets, function flow and drainage, leaks and cross connections.
The following items are not included in this inspection: overflow drains for tubs and sinks; heated towel racks, saunas, steam generators, clothes washers, clothes dryers. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not determine the adequacy of washing machine drain lines, washing machine catch pan drain lines, or clothes dryer exhaust ducts. The inspector does not operate water supply or shut-off valves for sinks, toilets, bidets, clothes washers, etc. due to the possibility of valves leaking or breaking when operated. The inspector does not determine if shower pans or tub and shower enclosures are water tight, or determine the completeness or operability of any gas piping to laundry appliances.

Limitations: The home inspector shall inspect: electrical service entrance conductors, equipment, grounding, main over current device, main and distribution panels, amperage and voltage rating of the service, branch circuits conductors, their over current devices and the compatibility or their ampacities, the operation of a representative number of installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles located inside the house, garage and on the exterior walls, the polarity and grounding of all receptacles within 6 feet of interior plumbing fixtures, all receptacles ins the garage or carport, the operation of all GFCI receptacles, smoke detectors and permanently wired carbon monoxide alarms. The home inspector shall describe: the electrical service amperage and voltage, service entrance conductor materials, service type (overhead or underground), and the location of main and distribution panels. The home inspector shall state the presence of any accessible single strand aluminum branch circuits, the presence or absence of of smoke detectors and permanently installed carbon monoxide alarms in any home with fuel fires appliances or attached garages and operate their test function, if accessible except when the detectors are part of a central system.
The home inspector is not required to: insert any tool, probe or testing device inside the service panels, test or operate and over-current device except ground fault circuit interrupters, dismantle any electrical device or control other than remove the covers from service or distribution panel. The inspector is not required to inspect: low voltage systems, security systems and heat detectors, IT equipment and wiring, central vacuum systems, back up generating equipment or alternate electrical generating or renewable energy systems. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not determine the adequacy of grounding or bonding, if this system has an adequate capacity for the client's specific or anticipated needs, or if this system has any reserve capacity for additions or expansion. The inspector does not operate circuit breakers as part of the inspection, and does not install or change light bulbs. The inspector does not evaluate every wall switch or receptacle, but instead tests a representative number of them per NCGS 143. When furnishings, stored items or child-protective caps are present some receptacles are usually inaccessible and are not tested; these are excluded from this inspection. Receptacles that are not of standard 120 volt configuration, including 240-volt dryer receptacles, are not tested and are excluded. The functionality of, the power source for and placement of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is not determined as part of this inspection. Upon taking occupancy, proper operating and placement of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be verified and batteries should be changed. These devices have a limited lifespan and should be replaced every 10 years. The inspector attempts to locate and evaluate all main and sub-panels. However, panels are often concealed. If panels are found after the inspection, a qualified electrician should evaluate and repair if necessary. The inspector attempts to determine the overall electrical service size, but such estimates are not guaranteed because the overall capacity may be diminished by lesser-rated components in the system. Any repairs recommended should be made by a licensed electrician.

Limitations: The inspector shall inspect permanently installed heating systems including: heat equipment, normal operating controls, automatic safety controls, chimneys, flues and vents where readily accessible, solid fuel heating devices, heat distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts and piping, with supports, insulation, air filters, registers, radiators, fan cooling units convectors, the presence or absence of an installed heat source for each habitable space.
The inspector shall describe, energy source and distribution type. The inspector shall operate the system using normal operating controls, shall open readily open-able access panels provided by the manufacturer or installed for routine home owner maintenance.
The home inspector is not required to: operate systems when weather conditions may cause damage, operate automatic safety controls, ignite or extinguish solid fuel devices or ignite pilot lights. The inspector is not required to inspect the interior of flues, fireplace insert flue connections, heat exchangers, humidifiers, electronic air filters, the uniformity or adequacy of heat supply or solar heating equipment.
Air Conditioning. The home inspector shall inspect: central air conditioning and through the wall (mini-split) installed cooling systems including cooling and air handling equipment, normal operating controls, distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts and piping with a associated supports, dampers, insulation, air filters, registers, fan coil units and the presence or absence of an installed cooling source for each habitable space.
The inspector shall describe: energy sources and cooling equipment type. The home inspector shall operate the system using normal operating controls and shall open readily open-able access panels provided by the manufacture or installed for routine home owner maintenance.
The home inspector is not required to operate cooling systems when weather conditions may cause damage, inspect window units or the uniformity or adequacy of cool-air supply to the various rooms. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not provide an estimate of remaining life on heating or cooling system components, does not determine if heating or cooling systems are appropriately sized, does not test coolant pressure. It is beyond the scope of this inspection to determine if furnace heat exchangers are intact and free of leaks. Condensation pans and drain lines may clog or leak at any time and should be monitored while in operation in the future. Where buildings contain furnishings or stored items, the inspector may not be able to verify that a heat source is present in all "liveable" rooms (e.g. bedrooms, kitchens and living/dining rooms).

Limitations: The following items are not included in this inspection: coal stoves, gas logs, chimney flues (except where visible, not interior), fireplace insert flue connections, heat exchangers, humidifiers or electronic air filters. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not determine the adequacy of drafting or sizing in fireplace and stove flues, and also does not determine if prefabricated or zero-clearance fireplaces are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. The inspector does not perform any evaluations that require a pilot light to be lit, and does not light fires. The inspector provides a basic visual examination of a chimney and any associated wood burning device. The National Fire Protection Association has stated that an in-depth Level 2 chimney inspection should be part of every sale or transfer of property with a wood-burning device. Such an inspection may reveal defects that are not apparent to the home inspector who is a generalist.

Limitations: The home inspector shall inspect: fuel storage and distribution systems including interior fuel storage, supply piping and supports. The inspector shall describe: storage capacity, location and the location of any shutoff device. The home inspector is not required to operate automatic safety controls or shut off valves.

Limitations: The home inspector shall inspect: walls, ceilings, floors, steps, stairways, balconies, railings, counters, representative number of built-in cabinets and interior doors. The home inspector shall operate a representative number of interior doors and windows. The following items are not included in this inspection: security, intercom and sound systems; communications wiring; central vacuum systems; elevators and stair lifts; cosmetic deficiencies such as nail-pops, scuff marks, dents, dings, blemishes or issues due to normal wear and tear on surfaces, window and door screens, wall paper, paint or other finish treatments on floor, wall and ceiling surfaces, carpeting, draperies, blinds or other window treatments, low voltage and gas lighting systems. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not evaluate any areas or items which require moving stored items, furnishings, debris, equipment, floor coverings, insulation or similar materials. The inspector does not test for asbestos, lead, radon (unless requested), mold, hazardous waste, urea formaldehyde urethane, or any other toxic substance. The client should be aware that paint may obscure wall and ceiling defects, floor coverings may obscure floor defects, and furnishings may obscure wall, floor and floor covering defects. If furnishings were present during the inspection, recommend a full evaluation of walls, floors and ceilings that were previously obscured when possible. Determining the cause and/or source of odors is not within the scope of this inspection.

Limitations: The home inspector shall inspect: insulation and vapor barriers in unfinished spaces, ventilation of attic and foundation, kitchen, bathroom and laundry venting systems, operate readily accessible attic fans and thermostats if weather permits.
The home inspector shall describe: insulation in unfinished spaces and the absence or insulation in unfinished spaces at the conditioned surface. The following items or areas are not included in this inspection: areas that could not be traversed or viewed clearly due to lack of access (ie behind drywall). The inspector does not determine the adequacy of the attic ventilation system nor the performance of insulation.

Limitations: The inspector shall inspect and operate the basic functions of the following kitchen appliances: permanently installed dishwashers, ranges, cook-tops ovens, trash compactors, garbage disposal, vent hoods and permanently installed microwave ovens
The following items are not included in this inspection: refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, hot water dispensers and water filters; appliance timers, clocks, cook functions, self and/or continuous cleaning operations, thermostat or temperature control accuracy, washing machines, dryers or other non-built in appliances. Any comments made regarding these items are as a courtesy only. Note that the inspector does not provide an estimate of the remaining life of appliances, and does not determine the adequacy of operation of appliances. The inspector does not note appliance manufacturers, models or serial numbers and does not determine if appliances are subject to recalls. Areas and components behind and obscured by appliances are inaccessible and excluded from this inspection.

Limitations: The inspector does not determine the adequacy of firewall ratings. Requirements for ventilation in garages vary between municipalities.