Summary Page
| Home Inspection Report | |
| Client(s): | John Doe |
| Property address: | Countryside Rd. Upstate, New York |
| Inspection date: | Saturday, December 24, 2005 |
| Safety | Poses a risk of injury or death |
| Major defect | Correction likely involves a significant expense |
| Repair/Replace | Recommend repairing or replacing |
| Repair/Maintain | Recommend repair and/or maintenance |
| Maintain | Recommend ongoing maintenance |
| Evaluate | Recommend evaluation by a specialist |
| Monitor | Recommend monitoring in the future |
| Comment | For your information |
- Trees are overhanging roof and are within 10 feet of roof vertically. Recommend pruning trees so they're at least 10 feet above roof, or don't overhang the roof.
- One or more gutters are missing. Recommend installing gutters, downspouts and extensions such as splashblocks or a drain line to carry rain water away from the house.
- There is ice jamming taking place on the front of the house. This will cause interior leaks if not corrected. Recommend snow slides or a heat tape product. Consult a roofer for more advice.
- The top three levels of chimney block need repair or replacing as they are cracked and/or deteriorated over time. There are several small cracks at lower levels. Recommend consulting a mason for repair.
- Service wires from pole are threatened by tree overhang and should have Electric Company inspect and provide remedy.
- Basement windows are old. Consider replacing. One window is boarded and the cement work is deteriorating.
- Vines growing on building, recommend having contractor remove vines that may contribute to deterioration of siding.
- Moss on siding. Clean with bleach and water.
- Perimeter grading slopes towards building. Recommend grading soil so it slopes down and away from the building to direct rainwater away. Only at several areas. Snow cover made it difficult to see true grade. Inspect in the spring and grade away as needed.
- The barn is in poor condition. Several vertical and horizontal supports are rotted, sagging and leaning away from the road. The front foundation wall is bowing in. Expect to do extensive repairs to barn if you consider using. Several slate shingles are cracked and/or missing.
- There is an open electrical junction box over the kitchen/dining area. Recommend installing a cover.
- There are three rafters that are twisting due to excessive span for size wood used. Additional support is needed or replacement of rafters. Roof decking is starting to sag. Recommend having a contractor or structural engineer advise repair.
- The home has had several additions over the years. There are multiple cracks located on walls and ceilings. Expect to repair and replace areas of sheetrock and plaster.
- Both fireplaces did not fire. Gas was off to free standing stoive. Insert did not fire up. Consult manufacture for operating instruction.
- No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices (outlets or circuit breakers) are visible for the kitchen. GFCI devices help prevent electric shocks in areas that may have water present. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician install GFCI protection for outlets, over counter tops and around sinks.
- Leak at drain under sink. Recommend repairing leak.. Stain was there from a previous leak, pipes are loose and not secure. Recommend plumber repair as necessary.
- Range hood fan is inoperable, and stove light not working. Convection over does not appear to be powered. Recommend repairing or replacing as necessary.
- Some of the outlets in the kitchen were not functioning. Recommend an electrician repair or replace as necessary.
- Ceiling in laundry room shows stains that appear to be old leaks from above. Recommend this area be monitored.
- Filter is clogged and in need of cleaning and/or replacing.
- Drain line is missing. Recommend having a licensed plumber install a drain line extending to within 6" from the floor, or routed so as to drain outside.
- One or more circuit breakers are "double tapped", where 2 or more wires are clamped in a circuit breaker terminal and the circuit breaker was only designed for 1 wire. This is a safety hazard since wires may come loose and cause arcing, sparking and fires. Recommend having a licensed electrician evaluate and repair.
- Several areas of the panel show unprofessional work methods. Taped and worn wires. Recommend an electrician review this panel for safety purposes.
- No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection device is visible for the sump pump electric supply. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician determine if a GFCI protection device (receptacle or circuit breaker) exists for the sump pump and install one if missing to reduce the danger of electric shock.
- Stairs to basement do not have handrail and pose a safety hazard. Recommend a carpenter add as necessary
- Asbestos like insulation used on heating pipes. This should be tested to confirm it is asbestos. It is in a friable condition and should be removed properly if determined to be asbestos.
- Basement and barn have powder post beetle damage. Consult an exterminator.
- No smoke detectors are visible. Recommend installing smoke detectors as necessary so a functioning one exists in each hallway leading to bedrooms, and in each bedroom. For more information on smoke detectors visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5077.html
- This home was built before 1978, when laws were enacted in the US preventing the use of lead paint in residential structures. Lead paint may be present, and is a known safety hazard, especially to children but also to adults. It may cause brain damage and retarded mental and physical development, among other things. The paint found in and around this structure appeared to be intact and and most likely encapsulated by more recent layers of paint that's not lead-based. However, recommend following precautions as described in the following links to Consumer Products Safety Commission website articles regarding possible lead paint.