Home
What is a Home Inspection?
Common Problems
Pricing
Product Recalls and Alerts
Resources
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Home Owner Maintenance Tips
About Dakota Home Inspections, Inc.

What is a Home Inspection?

All of the major components in your prospective home are inspected for safety hazards and for defects, structural or otherwise, that may effect the value of your home. All accessible areas are inspected thoroughly from crawl spaces to the attic.

All inspections performed by Dakota Home Inspections exceed the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Clients are strongly encouraged to participate in the inspection. This is your opportunity to ask questions or bring up any concerns. After your inspection is complete I am available by phone to answer any questions. There is no limit or charge for phone consultations.

Most inspections take two and a half to three hours depending on the age and condition of the house. Additional buildings, extra baths and kitchens, or multiple attic and crawlspace accesses will increase the length of the inspection.

Dakota Home Inspections, Inc. provides a thorough, professional, and unbiased report. Your report is completed and delivered to you on site at the end of the inspection. This allows you and your agent to prepare for negotiations immediately. It is important that you read the entire inspection report before going into negotiations and to have a complete knowledge of any and all defects noted in the report.

What is inspected:

  • Grounds: Grading, stumps and plantings in relation to the structure, walkways/driveways, retaining walls, and downspout termination.

  • Exterior: Siding, soffits, facias, doors, windows, trim, and fences/gates.

  • Structure: Foundation, crawl space, dampness or evidence of moisture problems, vapor barrier, proper ventilation, footings, columns, walls, and chimneys.

  • Roof: Structure, roofing materials, flashing, vents/stacks, and skylights.

  • Attic: Insulation, structure, adequate ventilation, evidence of leaks (past or present), and chimney condition.

  • Electrical: Service entrance, main and sub-panels, grounding system, branch circuits, outlets, and GFCI's.

  • Heating: Combustion system, venting, distribution, controls/thermostat, and A/C components.

  • Plumbing: Main supply line as it enters the house, distribution lines, drains/vents/traps, functional flow, and fixtures.

  • Interior: Walls, ceilings, windows, doors, stairs, fireplaces, and the presence of smoke detectors.

  • Wood destroying organisms: Examined for evidence of termites, carpenter ants, wood boring beetles, fungal rot, and conducive conditions that can make your house attractive to these pests.

Every home inspection performed in the state of Washington should include a pest inspection and is part of all home inspections performed by Dakota Home Inspections at no additional charge. Deb is a structural pest inspector licensed by the state of Washington and a member of the Washington State Pest Control Association. Be sure to look for the ICN number in the upper right hand corner of your home inspection report cover page. This is your insurance that your inspection has been done by a state licensed structural pest inspector. Mortgage brokers will be looking for it.

Return to top

Deb Wenneman brings over twenty years of remodel and construction experience to your side of the negotiating table. A Dakota Home Inspection report will prepare you to make a confident and informed decision.

Email.....206.437.9981 .....

Copyright 2000 Dakota Home Inspections. All rights reserved.

This Web site maintained by: Hoffman Graphics