Home Inspections in Just 2 Minutes!

Ok, you can’t do a home inspection in 2 minutes. A home inspection generally takes 2-4 hours and we always recommend using a home inspector who is licensed by the State of Washington and a member of a national home inspection organization like ASHI or NACHI.

Inspecting a Leavenworth home

But here’s what Chip Roberson of Mission Home and Pest Inspection suggests during your first peak at a home.
The two minute inspection:
When looking for your new home, first impressions can be very important. This is especially true when observing the structure, because structural repairs can many times be very difficult and expensive. My suggestion to home buyers is to look closely at the structure and how the surrounding grounds are affecting it.
The grounds, including the hard surfaces directly adjacent to the foundation should pitch away and not trap moisture along the foundation. Trapped moisture can enter into a basement or crawlspace which can negatively affect the structure. If this has been allowed to occur then there may be some developing concerns within the structure such as infestations and damage to the framework by wood destroying organisms.
When observing the exterior surfaces of the structure for example, horizontal siding and roof eves, attached structures, large openings and ridge lines, look closely for sagging or dropping lines. If the structure appears to be leaning or sagging in any way this may be a sign that the structure is either settling or crushing under its own weight.
If you notice this, I recommended further investigation to locate the cause of this concern. This is only the beginning of the inspection process.
Stay tuned for more installments of the two minute home inspection..