Thursday, June 16, 2011

What is Required in a Home Inspection?

When we purchase a Bixby home, many homeowners choose or are required by their mortgage, to have their home inspected. Each inspector has their own way to inspect the property and some do more than others. There are requirements, however, by the Oklahoma Home Inspection Industry (OAC 310:276) that gives minimum requirements for a General Home Inspection. Those requirements include:

The inspector shall inspect and describe the condition of the following items:

1. Structural System Inspection Requirement
a. Foundation Components
b. Framing Components
c. Method of Inspection
2. Exterior Inspection Requirements
a. Exterior Wall Coverings
b. Flashing, trim, fascia and soffits
c. Doors and windows
d. Balconies, decks, and railings
e. Steps, porches, walkways, patios, and driveways
f. Site, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls
3. Roof System Inspection
a. Roof covering, penetrations, and flashings
b. Skylights
c. Chimneys
d. Method of inspection
4. Plumbing System Inspection
a. Fixtures, faucets, drain and vent systems
b. Water heaters, flues, energy source, and safety relief valve
c. Fuel storage and distribution systems and location of main fuel shut off
d. Water supply and location of main water shut off
5. Electrical System Inspection
a. Service drop, service entrance conductors, cables and raceways
b. Main disconnects, distributions panels, sub-panels, and grounding
c. Describe the amperage and voltage of the source
d. Conductors (including presence of aluminum branch wiring)
e. Readily accessible lighting fixtures, switches, ceiling fans, receptacles, ground fault
circuit interrupters, accessible wiring and splicing
f. Absence of smoke detectors
6. Heating System Inspection
a. Installed heating equipment, vents, flues, and chimneys
b. Energy source and distribution method
7. Cooling System Inspection
a. Central and through the wall cooling equipment
b. Energy source and distribution method
8. Interior Inspection
a. Interior walls, ceilings, and floors
b. Steps, stairways and railings
c. Cabinets and countertops
d. Doors and windows
e. Garage doors and automatic openers
f. Built-in kitchen appliances (garbage disposal, cook top, oven, dishwasher, vent hood)
9. Insulation and Ventilation Inspection
a. Insulation and vapor barriers in attic and crawlspace areas (or absence of)
b. Ventilation of attic and crawlspace areas
c. Mechanical ventilation systems
10. Fireplaces and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances Inspection
a. Firebox, damper, flue and solid fuel burning appliances

Need Bixby Home Maintenance repairs after your home inspection? Contact these professionals...

Bixby, OK. Roofing Repairs- A-Best Roofing, Judy Smith, 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com

Plumbing Repairs in Bixby, OK.- Mullin Plumbing, Markwayne Mullin, 918-258-6636 or www.mullinplumbing.com.

General Repairs, Remodeling and Building in Bixby, OK.- US Building Systems, Rick Oberlender, 918-518-5913.

Bixby, OK. Electrical Repairs- Murray Electric, Larry Murray, 918-557-3020 or www.murrayelectric.com.

Heating and Cooling Repairs in Bixby, OK
.- Stephen Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-COOL or www.airassurance.com.

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