How to organize your inspection

Would You like to be a home inspector ? Or, you are in a situation where you can't hire a professional to do the job ? Here is how I catagorize the subjects during a pre-purchase type home inspection. I hope this will be useful to you

Exterior part of property

  1. Surface water control

  2. Foundation

  3. Exterior envelope

  4. Doors, windows, frames

  5. Roof

  6. Accesses

  7. Exterior electrical

  8. Landscaping

  9. Other structures

Interior part of property


  1. Basement

  2. Insulation

  3. Interior electrical

  4. Plumbing

  5. Structural and carpentry

  6. Main heating and other

  7. Doors, windows, mechanisms (interior)

  8. Flooring

  9. Finition

  10. Air quality and ventilation

  11. stairs and steps

  12. bathrooms

  13. Safety

  14. Attic

  15. Water and septic installations

You would like to be a home inspector ?

Some colleges and private institutions offer home and property inspection courses. Once you've graduated, hopefully, you should work with an experienced professional inspector. A "hands-on" knowledge of construction is an asset. Finally, consider that the inspection profession is like any other business: you must first build it. That's quite the program !

Pointers

  • Keep an open mind. Let the house show you its signs

  • Listen to your client's questions and comments

  • Add humour to your inspection, lighten up the atmosphere, but always be respectfull of the people you deal with

  • Use your intuition (or subconscience), if you beleive in such things

  • Write down notes or use a recorder to comment what you find

  • You may take photographs of defeciencies

  • When in doubt about something you have found, tell your client, and research to find a solution.

  • Take the necessary time, and don't let anyone pressure you

  • Clean up any mess you have made. Example, insulation on floor.