Detached Home Inspections

A detached house inspection includes a Free Thermal Scan to help find water leaks.

We start on the outside of the house and inspect the roof for any signs of missing shingles, old age or areas vulnerable to leakage. Then we work around the home and inspect the foundation, grading, windows, walls, chimney, gutters, electrical, decks and air conditioner.

Once inside, the electrical panel is the next stop and we are looking for any signs of improper installation like double taps or undersized wires. This is where you’re informed of the location of the main disconnect switch and it’s amperage.

A typical detached house will have some type of furnace. Whether it’s a high efficiency gas furnace, propane furnace or boiler, we inspect them all. A furnace can last anywhere between 18 to 25 years and sometimes even longer depending on the maintenance and care it receives.

Each home will have a water heater. Most often it’s a tank with a fuel source such as gas or even electricity. Many homeowners are now choosing a tankless water heater to save on energy.

After all this, we locate the main water shut off and inform the buyers of its location.

Now that some large items have been inspected, we work our way through the basement, inspecting for any signs of structural movement, significant cracks in the foundation, or water leakage.

After the basement we travel through each floor inspecting the electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling, and windows in each room. At the same time, the interior of the house is scanned with a thermal camera (also known as infrared). Thermal cameras can help find missing insulation or water leakage that isn’t easily seen. If we see a suspicious reading it’s checked with a moisture meter to confirm whether or not moisture is present.

Finally we inspect the attic. Most homeowners don’t spend too much time up there and sometimes decades have passed since the last time the attic hatch was opened. But, it’s very important to make sure it’s healthy. A good attic will have plenty of insulation and ventilation which helps keep your energy bills low and deters mould growth.

A typical detached home inspection takes roughly 2-2.5 hours to perform. After the inspection, you will have an opportunity to ask any questions that weren’t answered during the inspection. We are happy to answer all questions!

Once back at the office. The report will be sent as a PDF to your email with photos, illustration, defects and descriptions.

This is just a brief summary of what’s involved in a home inspection for a detached property. The actual list of items inspected is much larger! Our goal is to inform you of significant issues that potential homeowners should be aware of before deciding to purchase a home. We want homeowners to be informed so they can comfortably move forward with their purchase.