Huh? :margarit:
I noticed several comments about faucets and how long to let them run. For kitchen sinks, use the drain stoppers and fill them at least 1/2 way. Many times a leak will go unnoticed until pressure is added.
For bath sinks, again use the stopper and fill to the overflow. Usually start the sink, start the shower and let them run while checking commode.
Shane
Anyone else like to post there inspection routine from start to finish?
How about an organized checklist that doesn’t have one running all over the property? I’m new at this also (1 month). Any help would be appreciated. Terry
I tried that, several times, and my employees tried it, several times, since they didn’t believe that I had tried it, several times. It just didn’t work because every house is different.
I’ve found water heaters in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the bedroom, in the bedroom closet, in the bathroom, in the attic, in the garage, outdoors in a utility closet, outdoor exposed to the elements, and in the foundation crawl space, so regardless of where I put the water heater so that I’m not running around, I ultimately wind up running around on someone’s property.
And if it’s not the water heater, then it’s the furnace. And if it’s not the furnace, then it’s the electric panel. And if it’s not the electric panel, it’s the…
Hi Steven,
Since you are just starting out, you should probably start with the way you were taught. What inspection school did you attend? Once you get your feet wet, you can always change it up, to what works for you. Keep in mind, once you have a routine, changing things can cause you to miss things.
I first knock on the door an make sure I am at the right house. Then I have a set of questions for the owner. After that, I start at the front door and work my way around the house going right until I get back to the front door.
Then I climb on the roof and inspect the roof coverings.
Next, I go in the house and again, start at the front door and go to the right opening up all of the blinds, locating and turning on switches and find the thermostat. I then start the washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher. I may also close some doors to section off rooms with two entrances in order to plan how I am going to go around the house.
Then turn on the heat. Next I pull the service panel cover. After replacing the cover, I turn off the heat. I may leave the heat on longer if there is a Realtor there I don’t particularly like! 
I will then wait a few minutes and turn the a/c on. Now, I start the inspection. Again, I start at the front door and work my way to the right. I look up and down the walls and ceilings, open and close windows, check outlets and just keep going until I get to the front door again.
Lastly, I go in the attic.
After that, I am done.
The key to whatever method you choose is to do it consistently. Do not deviate from your plan and do not let others dictate how you are going to perform your inspection.
I had one Realtor ask me to start on the inside first, then do the garage last, then do the exterior after she left. I told her, for an additional fee, I can come back when you have more time.
She went back to her Lexus and I didn’t see her until I was done!
Hey, Evan.
I would not have expected you to climb on the roof without inspecting the attic first to see what might, or might not, be supporting you.
Glad to see you over here!
Generally here in South Florida, a majority of the roofs are visible from ground level. As I walk around the outside, I am looking for evidence of leaks.
If I find them, then I know to be careful when walking those areas. In some instances, say four or five leaks, I go on the roof just to get more evidence to support the recommendation that I am going to make. That would most likely be to replace the roof.
As for me contributing here, I don’t view it as something special. We are all trying to learn and if I can help, I am more than happy to.
I hope all is well with you.
I start by setting up in the kitchen, and start the dishwasher. Unsless it is raining, or very muddy, I start the exterior going to the left until I get to my starting point. I then redo the exterior, going to the right. I’ve caught things going one way I missed the other due to perspective. Visibly inspect the roof. Start in the attic and work my way down. Walk the roof, if needed, print the summary page, get the check, hand over the summary and card with the web address to view the summary, go home.
If the weather conditions are crappy, I’ll do the exterior last and change into tennis shoes when I enter.
Uh-huh…That’s why I check the crawlspace first - taking care to make sure all of the drains are connected…especially the bathtubs.
Nothing like crawling into something you should have checked for FIRST.
:shock:
What if the house does not have a crawlspace?
All houses have crawlspaces. Though, some of them are only as tall as the spaces between the gravel under the slab.
Yeah, maybe in TN
When I first arrive…
Walk around the property to see that utilities are on or any other obstacles that might be in the way.
Kitchen - Run any needed appliances, and running faucets. I have a stopper for kitchen sinks. Many drains will not leak until some pressure (half sink full of water) is on them.
Directly to thermostats to fire them up if they are not running already.
Bathrooms to run all plumbing fixtures, check GFCI’s, flush the terlets a time or two. Check for leaks at any drains. Run my moisture meter around checking for areas of high moisture.
Check all bedrooms and other living spaces. (Outlets,switch operation, fans, windows, fireplaces, etc…)
Then on to the attic checking the underside of all sheathing, flashing points, insulation ventilation, signs of rodents, signs of past fire damage. Here most heat pumps or furnaces are in the attics so that is checked over as well. Check for proper gas line install, check for proper condensate drains, etc…Also check for those bathroom and kitchen exhausts.
After the attic onto the basement or the crawlspace. Checking the normal things. Cracks in foundations, moisture, heaving, insulation, HVAC stuff, plumbing for leaks (that I ran probably an hour ago), crawlspace ventilation, crawlspace moisture barriers if any and rodent or termite damage.
Then onto the exterior. Checking grading, guttering, vegetation around the house, hose bibs, dryer,gas,plumbing vents, fireplace/chimney stuff. Inspect siding for defects or faulty siding material. Check all walkways and driveways, retaining walls. Observe the roof from a ladder at the eaves. I don’t do roofs, I’ve learned from that mistake. The attic side of a roof system will almost always tell you more than the top side. But I do check the top side for missing tabs, missing granules and general aging.
This is a general list of my routine. Usually more detailed, but hopefully this gets the point across.
And of course my client will get their report within 24 hours of the actual inspection.
Thank god they don’t! I’d really hate my job if every house had a crawlspace! 
Truth to that Brian
Great info. I’m also new, not yet working though. What do you do pre-inspection, and how much time do you need to prepare? From the time the appointment is made to the time of the appointment.
[quote=“rray, post:4, topic:18922”]
I always run the heater first, preferring to heat them up and then cool them down. If I run the cooler before the heater, then I might leave them all “hot at me.” If I run the heater first, then they’ll be “cool” when we leave.
Is it OK to run both systems anytime of the year? Wouldn’t it be hard to tell if the AC is working in the winter and the same for the heat in the summer? Is it OK run switch from one to another like that, would it harm the HVAC system?
Never had a problem, and the protocol works wonderfully when the Client calls six months later wondering why his heating/cooling system doesn’t work. “Remember when…” “Oh, yeah.”