• Electrical system: Electric box for condition and code, fuses, visible wiring, type and condition, and other safety issues. • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC): Chimneys, vents, house insulation, and ducting. All furnace and AC systems 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 in place and operating, fireplaces, and stoves. • Pest inspection. Presence of wood-boring and other insects, molds, and fungi. If you live in certain high-risk areas, it’s wise to order an additional service — for example, earthquake, tornado, or flood inspection. The specialist will help you to estimate the resistance of the property during natural disasters. Your inspector may recommend asking for a specialized opinion, such as a structural engineer in case weakness is suspected in bearing walls. Don’t procrastinate and wait to get this done. There have been situations in which the closing meeting had to be postponed because of failure to properly deal with discovered inspection issues in time. Generally at least in California the buyer has 17 days to inspect but that time frame can be changed in the Offer. A good expert is hard to find. Choosing the right inspector is the key to a thorough and comprehensive report. You may search
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