It's always good to know just-Houstrong- your house is!
The purpose of a home inspection
If not the largest, a house is at least one of the largest investments that a person does make within their lifetime. Whether it is used as a home for your family to call their own, or simply a means to build wealth through renting or flipping, having a home inspection done will give you and/or your family a peace of mind. That peace of mind comes from knowing everything that is possible for you to know about the physical condition of the house. As with anything that a person considers to be an investment, it is commonly stated to be unwise to invest in anything without having your research done on it first (due diligence). Purchasing a house is not an exception. It could be the difference between being stuck with a structurally damaging leaky roof with no additional funds to allocate to its repair, or knowing about the leaky roof before purchase and having the choice to negotiate a lower price to assist with its repair or to walk away. Like our slogan states..."It is always good to know just -Houstrong- your house is". If you are looking to buy a house, let Houstrong home inspectors inspect it correctly for you.
What is iNspected by a Houstrong Home Inspector?
Inspection of the following home components:
Foundation & Structure
The structure, is the frame, posts, pillars, girders and beams that erects the housing and the foundation gives the structure its base to erect on. Foundations come in multiple forms; basement, crawlspace, slab on grade. Understanding the strength of these units may be the difference between purchasing a money pit/death trap or...... a great investment/safe family haven.
Attic & Roof
The Attic, if applicable, is the structural part of the roof , which is made to support the roofing material used to protect it. Roofing materials may come in various like rubber, tile, and the more commonly known asphalt, just to name a few. Aside from providing top side protection from exterior elements to a house or building, roofing materials may also add additional insulating properties.
Electrical System
The purpose of the electrical system of a house/building is to receive power from a utility source and to distribute that electrical power throughout the structure, for lighting and site power access. Electrical service may enter a home through overhead or underground wiring. The service panel (breaker box) is the distribution center, and much like the brain it has a nervous system with a series of wiring throughout the structure to power lighting, receptacles, well pumps, water heaters, boilers, baseboard heaters, etc. A properly functioning and grounded electrical system is an integral element of a house or building.
Plumbing System
The purpose of the plumbing system is to deliver freshwater and drain wastewater, through a series of pipes. Fresh water is distributed through what is known as the supply line which may come from a utility or well. Wastewater is drained through what is commonly called DWV (Drain Waste Vent) pipes to either a sewage system or septic. Knowing that uncontrolled moisture can be one of the most common elements to the deterioration of a house structure.
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
The HVAC system varies greatly from structure to structure. Some may provide just heating and ventilation through the use of a furnace and vent system, and some may also include an exterior AC unit or heat pump to provide a complete central air system. No matter what units are used within an HVAC system, the purpose of the HVAC system is to create and/or maintain a comfortable interior air temperature within the home or building that it supplies.
Interior & Exterior Components
Interior and exterior components include stairs, siding (vinyl, wood, etc.) windows and doors, fireplaces, smoke detectors, etc. All aspects of the home that either serve to protect the structure of the home or its residents.
Garage
Basically, we inspect the home from the foundation to the roof. As long as it is accessible at the time of the inspection, it will be inspected.
Inspection Additions and Additional Cost
Wood Destroying Organisms (Termite)
Water Quality Test
House Components
Coverage Area
As a rule of thumb to remember, Houstrong provides general home inspection services to most of the Pennsylvania counties that are to the east of Interstate 81 (I-81). The specific counties are listed below:
Adams County Delaware County Monroe County
Berks County Franklin County Montgomery County
Bucks County Lackawanna County Northampton County
Carbon County Lancaster County Perry County
Chester County Lebanon County Pike County
Cumberland County Lehigh County Schuylkill County
Dauphin County Luzerne County Wyoming County
Home inspection service to Adams county, Berks county, Bucks county, Carbon county, Chester county, Cumberland county, Dauphin county, Delaware county, Franklin county, Lackawanna county, Lancaster county, Lebanon county, Lehigh county, Luzerne county, Monroe county, Montgomery county, Northampton county, Perry county, Pike county, Schuylkill county, and York county.