Full Home Inspection

Are you buying a home? Do you need an expert to help you know the condition?

INFORMATIVE
Informational sections so you can learn about the home.

VISUAL
High-quality images. Clean and easy to read.

USEFUL
Identified issues include corresponding contact information

MOBILE-FRIENDLY
Reports accessible from your phone or tablet.

DELIVERY WITHIN 24 HOURS
Full, visual report delivered within 24 hours of the inspection.

What is A Home Inspection?

ON A STANDARD HOME INSPECTION
Making your new home safe for you and your family is our top priority.

Whether you are buying, selling or maintaining your home, Sunny Palms Home Inspections provides professional and quality service from the moment you call. I strictly follow the Standards of Practice for home inspectors established by InterNACHI, a leading home inspection association.

I will explain the general condition of the home and systems with you and your agent. I will talk through any major issues that need to be addressed. I will also mention the items that you will want to keep an eye on for deferred maintenance. All of this will be detailed in my easy-to-read Spectora report. From that report, you will be able to see the items we discussed, with images for reference.

We strive to provide world class home inspection services for houses of all shapes, sizes and within every type of budget. We are trained to inspect every visible and accessible area of your house to ensure that it is safe for you to move in.

We are equipped with the latest tools and technologies in the home inspection industry, and are trained to use these tools to make sure your home is thoroughly inspected.

WHAT WE CHECK

ON A FULL HOME INSPECTION

A full home inspection is a non-invasive, visual inspection of a structure. It is conducted by a licensed professional, who will look for defects or issues with the structure and its components, then provide you with a digital photo report for your review.

We’ll carefully inspect most visible and readily accessible areas, providing a complete report of the findings within 24 hour the inspection.

We’ll inspect these areas of the property:

  • Roofing System (including gutters & downspouts)

  • Foundation & Crawl Spaces

  • Structural Components

  • Exterior (doors, windows, cladding)

  • Decks & Patios

  • Driveways & Walkways

  • Interior (doors, windows, floors, walls, ceilings, stairs)

  • Attic, Insulation, & Ventilation

  • Electrical System

  • Plumbing System

  • Heating & Air Conditioning Systems

  • Kitchen (including permanent appliances)

  • Skylight, chimney, and other roof penetrations;

  • Eaves, soffits and fascia

  • Grading and drainage

  • Water penetration

  • Main water shut-off valve

  • GFCIs and AFCIs

  • Fireplace damper door and hearth

  • Garage doors, safety sensors and openers

Whenever necessary, we’ll use the following tools during an inspection at no extra cost: thermal imaging, moisture meter, gas leak detector, aerial drone.

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE


Table of Contents

2. Limitations, Exceptions & Exclusions
2.1. Limitations:

  1. An inspection is not technically exhaustive.

  2. An inspection will not identify concealed or latent defects. 

  3. An inspection will not deal with aesthetic concerns, or what could be deemed matters of taste, cosmetic defects, etc. 

  4. An inspection will not determine the suitability of the property for any use. 

  5. An inspection does not determine the market value of the property or its marketability.

  6. An inspection does not determine the insurability of the property. 

  7. An inspection does not determine the advisability or inadvisability of the purchase of the inspected property. 

  8. An inspection does not determine the life expectancy of the property or any components or systems therein. 

  9. An inspection does not include items not permanently installed. 

  10. This Standards of Practice applies to properties with four or fewer residential units and their attached garages and carports.

2.2. Exclusions:

I. The inspector is not required to determine:

  1. property boundary lines or encroachments.

  2. the condition of any component or system that is not readily accessible. 

  3. the service life expectancy of any component or system. 

  4. the size, capacity, BTU, performance or efficiency of any component or system. 

  5. the cause or reason of any condition. 

  6. the cause for the need of correction, repair or replacement of any system or component. 

  7. future conditions. 

  8. compliance with codes or regulations. 

  9. the presence of evidence of rodents, birds, bats, animals, insects, or other pests. 

  10. the presence of mold, mildew or fungus.

  11. the presence of airborne hazards, including radon. 

  12. the air quality. 

  13. the existence of environmental hazards, including lead paint, asbestos or toxic drywall.

  14. the existence of electromagnetic fields. 

  15. any hazardous waste conditions. 

  16. any manufacturers' recalls or conformance with manufacturer installation, or any information included for consumer protection purposes.

  17. acoustical properties.

  18. correction, replacement or repair cost estimates. 

  19. estimates of the cost to operate any given system.

II. The inspector is not required to operate:

  1. any system that is shut down.

  2. any system that does not function properly. 

  3. or evaluate low-voltage electrical systems, such as, but not limited to:
    1. phone lines;
    2. cable lines;
    3. satellite dishes;
    4. antennae;
    5. lights; or
    6. remote controls.

  4. any system that does not turn on with the use of normal operating controls. 

  5. any shut-off valves or manual stop valves. 

  6. any electrical disconnect or over-current protection devices. 

  7. any alarm systems. 

  8. moisture meters, gas detectors or similar equipment.

III. The inspector is not required to:

  1. move any personal items or other obstructions, such as, but not limited to:  throw rugs, carpeting, wall coverings, furniture, ceiling tiles, window coverings, equipment, plants, ice, debris, snow, water, dirt, pets, or anything else that might restrict the visual inspection.

  2. dismantle, open or uncover any system or component.

  3. enter or access any area that may, in the inspector's opinion, be unsafe. 

  4. enter crawlspaces or other areas that may be unsafe or not readily accessible. 

  5. inspect underground items, such as, but not limited to: lawn-irrigation systems, or underground storage tanks (or indications of their presence), whether abandoned or actively used. 

  6. do anything that may, in the inspector's opinion, be unsafe or dangerous to the inspector or others, or damage property, such as, but not limited to:  walking on roof surfaces, climbing ladders, entering attic spaces, or negotiating with pets. 

  7. inspect decorative items. 

  8. inspect common elements or areas in multi-unit housing. 

  9. inspect intercoms, speaker systems or security systems.

  10. offer guarantees or warranties. 

  11. offer or perform any engineering services. 

  12. offer or perform any trade or professional service other than a home inspection. 

  13. research the history of the property, or report on its potential for alteration, modification, extendibility or suitability for a specific or proposed use for occupancy. 

  14. determine the age of construction or installation of any system, structure or component of a building, or differentiate between original construction and subsequent additions, improvements, renovations or replacements. 

  15. determine the insurability of a property.

  16. perform or offer Phase 1 or environmental audits.

  17. inspect any system or component that is not included in these Standards.

3. Standards of Practice

3.1.  Roof 
3.2. Exterior 
3.3. Basement, Foundation, Crawlspace & Structure
3.4. Heating 
3.5. Cooling 
3.6. Plumbing 
3.7. Electrical 
3.8. Fireplace 
3.9. Attic, Insulation & Ventilation
3.10. Doors, Windows & Interior

Infrared Thermography Inspection

An infrared inspection is a high-tech service that lets us examine a home or commercial building for a variety of problems, including electrical hazards, draft points/missing insulation, plumbing leaks, sewer leaks and even roof leaks. Infrared technology lets us see in heat instead of color. Being able to see in infrared shows surfaces that are hotter or cooler than the surrounding area.
Infrared imaging produces images of invisible heat energy emitted from objects and systems in the building. This is a non-invasive, non-destruction inspection that helps detect and measure temperature differences in the home.

An infrared thermography inspection can help to diagnose the problem rather than merely identify the symptoms. It can sometimes, but not always, identify and document such things as the following:

  • Electrical faults

  • Overloaded and undersized circuits

  • Circuit breakers in need of immediate replacement

  • Missing, damaged, and/or wet insulation

  • Heat loss and air infiltration in walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors

  • Water and moisture intrusion

  • Possible pest infestation

  • Hidden roof leaks

  • Air conditioner compressor leaks

  • Structural defects

  • Broken seals in double-pane windows

  • Energy loss and efficiency

  • Damaged and/or malfunctioning radiant heating systems

  • Unknown plumbing leaks

  • Overheated equipment

Tips For Home sellers

Exterior

  • Clean debris from gutters and drains

  • Re-caulk around exterior windows & doors

  • Repair damaged masonry on walkways & steps

  • Repair minor defect in exterior wall materials

  • Replace damaged and missing shingles

  • Seal driveway cracks

Interior

  • Repair leaking faucets and fixtures

  • Repair cracked and broken window panes

  • Have chimneys cleaned

  • Have a professional electrician inspect receptacle & switches, then make necessary repairs

  • Re-caulk around bathtubs & sinks

  • Arrange service for your HVAC

  • Replace batteries in smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

  • Loosen any windows that are painted shut

Inspection Day

  • Clear entrance to storage sheds, attic, crawl spaces, basement, and garage

  • Clear paths of debris

  • Keep pets in a safe location or remove them from the property if necessary

  • Move objects away from water heater, furnace and air conditioner

  • Provide all keys for any locked doors

Disclosures & Warranties

  • Disclose past fires, floods and major repair work

  • Provide building permits or plans for any major renovations

  • Provide invoices & warranties for major improvements like roofs, furnaces, and appliances