Chimneys, vents, house insulation, and ducting. All furnace and AC systems are checked for age, condition, and proper functioning. • Laundry room: Ventilation and dryer systems, leaks, and potential fire hazards. • Bathrooms: Bathtub, shower, sink, and toilet inspection—proper ventilation and plumbing. • Kitchen appliances (if part of purchase): Properly working devices and correct installation. • Fire safety: Smoke detectors, fireplaces, and stoves are operating. • Pest inspection: Presence of wood-boring and other insects, molds, and fungi. If you live in some high-risk regions, ordering an additional service, for example, earthquake, tornado, or flood inspection, is wise. The specialist will help you estimate the property's resistance during natural disasters. Your inspector may recommend asking for a specialized opinion, such as that of a structural engineer, if weakness is suspected in bearing walls. Don’t procrastinate and wait to get this done. There have been situations where the closing meeting had to be postponed because of failure to promptly deal with discovered inspection issues. A good expert is hard to find. Choosing the right inspector is the key to a thorough report. You may search online, paying attention to reviews of that inspector. Many real estate websites have a list of professionals with ratings and reviews. Ask your friends and family for a recommendation. An excellent source of recommendations is the real estate agent with whom you’re working — your buyer’s agent, not the seller’s agent.
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