The Home Inspection
The home inspection performed was a limited visual inspection to identify systems and components in need of immediate repair. The inspection followed the Washington State Standards of Practice which can be viewed here. The evaluation of the home was based on observations that were primarily visual and non-invasive. The inspection and report are not meant to be technically exhaustive. The inspection was not intended to be considered as a guarantee or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the conditions of the property, including the items and systems inspected, and it should not be relied on as such.
Reading Your Inspection Report
The inspection report from Common Concerns Home Inspections is interactive and uses HTML, allowing for simple sharing of the report and easy navigation through different sections. PDF versions of both the summary and full report can be viewed by clicking the corresponding navigation button.
Tabs: Clickable tabs are present in various sections of the report so items like deficiencies can be separated from other informational details.
- Overview: Deficiencies and other observations
- Information: General information
- Limitations: Limitations we encountered during the inspection
- Standards: The Washington State Standards of Practice
Narratives: These are the color-coded "boxes" below the grid sections that detail the particular observation/defect and recommendations.
Internet Links: Blue writing within narratives and/or report are clickable links.
Pictures/Videos: These are included (as applicable) to help you understand and see what was seen at the time of the Inspection. They can be clicked on within the report to enlarge/show more detail. Pictures and videos are intended to show an example, graphic, or illustration of an area of concern, but may not show every occurrence and may not accurately depict its severity. Please do not rely on pictures or videos alone.
Summary: This generally sums up the attention issues in the report, but should not be used solely as a reference on the condition of the property. Please be sure to read and understand the entire report to aid you in making an educated decision on the home's condition.
Categories and Definitions
This report divides deficiencies into three categories; Major (in red), Marginal-Moderate (in orange), and Minor/FYI (colored in blue). Safety Hazards or concerns will be listed in the Red or Orange categories depending on their perceived danger, but should always be addressed promptly.
- Major: Items or components that may require a significant expense to correct or are considerably impacting the home in a negative way. Items categorized in this manner require further evaluation and repairs or replacement by a qualified Contractor.
- Marginal-Moderate: Items or components that were found to include a deficiency. These items may have been functional at the time of inspection, but this functionality may be impaired, not ideal, or the defect may lead to further problems. Repairs or replacement is recommended to items categorized in this manner for optimal performance and/or to avoid future problems or adverse conditions that may occur due to the defect. Items categorized in this manner typically require repairs from a qualified Handyman or qualified Contractor and are not considered routine maintenance or DIY repairs for most.
- Minor/FYI: Items or components that were found to be in need of general maintenance and/or minor repairs which may improve their functionality. FYI (for your information) items or components are often nearing the end of their typical service life but were functional at the time of inspection. Repairing or replacing these items can sometimes be costly (furnace, water heater, roof covering).
Professional judgment was used to categorize the observed defects; this categorization should not be construed as to mean that deficiencies designated as "Minor/FYI" or "Marginal-Moderate" do not need repairs or replacement. The recommendations in each comment are more important than its categorization.
Defect Locations
Locations listed in this report are positioned oriented from standing in front of the home and looking towards it. The cover photo will be of what we consider to be the front. Areas inside the home are inspected in a counter-clockwise rotation and are listed as such.
Example: "Front-Left" refers to the front of the home, on the left side. "Side-Left" refers to the left side of the home.
Example: "2nd Floor: Bedroom 1" refers to the first bedroom on the right, once you've climbed the 2rd-floor stairs.
Thermal Imaging
An infrared camera may have been used as a tool during the inspection. This was not used as a definitive tool and should not be viewed as a full thermal scan of the entire home. Temperature readings displayed on thermal images in this report may be included as a courtesy but should not be wholly relied upon as a home inspection is qualitative, not quantitative. These values can vary +/- 4% or more of displayed readings.
Components Not Inspected
We inspect the main structure and attached components, as outlined by the Washington State Standards of Practice. The following are examples of components we do not/did not inspect unless otherwise agreed upon; fences/gates, pools/spas, detached structures, refrigerators, washers/dryers, storm doors/windows, screens, window AC units, central vacuum systems, water softeners, alarm and intercom systems, elevators, sewer lines, septic tanks, wells, water delivery systems, or underground fuel storage tanks.
A home inspection does not address environmental concerns such as, but not limited to: asbestos, lead, lead-based paint, radon, mold, fungus, wood destroying organisms (termites, etc), cockroaches, rodents, pesticides, treated lumber, Chinese drywall, mercury, or carbon monoxide.