Services

The Inspection Report

After the inspection, we produce an on-site computer generated report for the complete home inspection. The report includes a detailed analysis of the home, digital photographs for visual display of significant problem areas, and homeowner maintenance tips. Radon, lead, and mold analysis results are generally ready five business days after the samples are taken. Your report will also be available online for at least five years. Click here to see a Sample Report.

Complete Home Inspections

A complete home inspection is conducted upon completion of the home, and is generally before the contract between buyer and seller is finalized. When building a new home, we recommend that we inspect twice during the construction (see New Construction Phased Inspection). If you purcahse a newly constructed home after the drywall is installed, we will perform a Complete Home Inspection just before the walk-through of the builder. Each of our Complete Home Inspections come with a 90 Day Limited Warranty.

Our inspector, armed with the most advanced inspecting equipment, performs a complete structural and mechanical analysis, carefully inspecting each of the following:

• Roof, vents, flashings, and trim
• Skylight, chimney, and other roof penetrations
• Eaves, soffit, and fascia
• Gutters and downspouts
• Exterior wall covering
• Grading and drainage
• Basement, foundation, and crawlspace
• Water penetration and foundation movement
• Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings
• Fireplace damper door and hearth
• Insulation and ventilation
• Doors, windows, and locks

 A detailed check of all major systems including:

• Heating system
• Cooling systems
• Eaves, soffit, and fascia
• Gutters and downspouts
• Main water shut-off valves
• Water heating system
• Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets
• Electrical service line and meter box
• Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats
• Electrical panels, breakers, and fuses
• Grounding and bonding
• GFCIs and AFCIs
• Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Carbon monoxide and combustible gas leak tests

 Functional testing of built-in appliances including:

• Stove
• Oven
• Dishwasher
• Bulit-in microwave

 A basic home energy review including audits of the:

• Insulation and vapor barriers
• Weather-stripping
• Duct work, registers, and returns
• Thermostats
• Heating and cooling systems

 Our inspections are conducted according to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Standards of Practice.

New Construction Phased Inspections

Are you building a custom home and want to make sure it is being built correctly right from the start? 

AllCheck Inspections offers inspections during the foundation and the framing stages of the home building process in addition to the final inspection. The foundation stage is an inspection just before the cement is poured for the footers which ensures that the concrete is poured to the proper depth.

The framing stage takes place just before the drywall is installed in the home is a structural analysis ascertaining that all load bearing framing components were properly installed. The process also includes an examination of the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins. When your home is finished our inspectors perform the final inspection.

End of Builders Warranty

The sale of a newly built home typically includes a one-year warranty, during which time the builder will correct any problems. It is wise to have an inspection conducted shortly before the one-year warranty expires so you will know what to have the builder correct. Don't get stuck with those home maintenance bills later! Have your home inspected before the warranty runs out.

Four Point Inspection

A Four Point Inspection is generally performed for insurance companies prior to binding homeowners coverage on a home, The Four Points include:

• Plumbing
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Roof

Light Commercial

Light commercial inspections are a general overview of all the major systems and components present in the building, including the structure, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, exterior, and interior (similar to the regular inspection). The Standard Building Code is used to conduct the inspection on newer buildings. Light commercial inspections include low-rise office complexes, apartment complexes, investment properties, restaurants, warehouses, etc.

Reinspections

Once you have repaired issues discovered during a home inspection, we are available to come back at a reduced rate to make sure repairs were properly made. This helps you to ascertain that items noted in the inspection report were repaired correctly and comply with current building codes. Reinspections help you to further protect your investment and your home from future damage resulting from improper repairs.

Winterization/Dewinterization

If a home is vacant for an extended period of time, it should be winterized. The inspector will shut off the water to the house, empty the plumbing lines, drain the water heater, and fill all drain traps with antifreeze.

The home you purchased may have been winterized. If so, we will come to turn the water on, check for leaks, and ensure all plumbing is operational.

Termite Inspections

A complete wood destroying insect inspection including:

• Termites
• Carpenter ants
• Re-infesting wood boring beetles
• Carpenter bees
• Wood destroying fungi

 For more information see Termites

Radon Gas Testing

 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends radon testing on the sale of all new and existing homes. Radon is a deadly gas emitted from decaying Uranium and enters a house through small cracks and openings. The inspector will place two canisters in the house and return two days later to pick them up. Results of the radon test are delivered from the lab within five business days. For more information on radon gas, please see Radon.

Moisture and Mold Testing

Recent medical studies show that mold is one of the most common causes of allergy symptoms. Certain types of mold can even cause fatal disorders. The presence of mold, fungus, and mildew can create health hazards, so homes should be tested to determine the type of mold growing in a home. Inspectors can perform swab, air, and carpet samples to determine the type of mold and the amount of mold growing in the home.

Samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis and the results are generally available in five business days. It is also important to understand why mold is growing in a home. Inspectors can tell you possible reasons for mold growth and what repairs are needed to eliminate the problem. Often, simple and inexpensive repairs can eliminate the moisture issues that create an environment for mold growth. For more information on mold, please see Mold.

Water Quality Testing

The EPA is responsible for the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, which are health-related standards that establish the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). MCLs are the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to users of a public water system. MCLs are enforceable under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The maximum levels for some of the most commonly found contaminants are:

AllCheck Inspections offers two different water quality tests, for which your inspector can take water samples for during a complete home inspection.

An on-site water test will provide you with an approximate range of the contaminants in the water supply. The inspector will know the results of the lead, pesticides, nitrates, nitrites, chlorine, pH, and hardness test immediately, while the bacteria test will take 48 hours to show either positive or negative. The results will be emailed to you. The ranges provided by the on-site water test are:

A laboratory test on your drinking water will measure bacteria (total coliform, E. coli), lead, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrate/nitrite, pH, iron, and turbidity, and will provide an exact measurement of contaminants. The laboratory test takes three to five days to complete and the results will be emailed to you. For more information on private wells, please see Drinking Water.

Well and Septic System

When having a rural property inspected, it is important not to forget about the septic system. The septic system is one of the least thought about systems in a home today, but is also one of the most important. 

AllCheck Inspections will test the septic system to insure that everything is flowing properly and to verify there are no apparent leaks or stops in the finger system. We advise that, when purchasing a home with a septic system, the septic tank be cleaned by a reputable company and that you use a bacterial agent on a regular basis. For more information see Septic Systems.

Lead Testing

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk because their bodies are growing quickly. AllCheck Inspections offers two different types of lead testing.

Our on-site lead inspection involves the use of impregnated screening pads that will detect lead in building material to as little five ppm (parts per million). Up to ten different locations throughout the structure will be tested and the test results will be provided at time of inspection.

AllCheck Inspections can also provide laboratory testing when requested. These tests will provide an exact measurement in parts per million for each sample. Soil, dust, or paint samples can be taken. Typically, multiple samples are taken so an overall understanding of the entire premise can be documented. Lab tests for lead are billed per sample taken and generally take three to five days to return from the laboratory. Results will be emailed when received.  For more information see Lead.