TOPIC: Inspection Order

Good deal, I'm still new to inspections so things still take me longer.  I take tons of notes so I wont forget anything but I'm finding that if I take tons of pics I can remember almost everything else.  And when I need to look at my notes I have them.  I have a blank HIP report that I use for my notes.  That way I don't leave anything out.

That is what I did years ago John, print a blank report and add notes as needed, it worked very well.

I create a diagram of the property when I first start performing the exterior inspection.

I note on the exterior diagram negative grading, cracks, utility's, location of subsurface drainage and any other related items.

I do exterior, roof, garage.

On the the inside I start with kitchen, interior, baths. Then the attic.

Laundry depending on what floor it is on.

Utilities are done as I go and I usually do furnace last. I crank up the heat when I go by the thermostat and turn it up high so people complain about how hot it is. I do the same for AC when the seasons allow.

I do basement last. I use my diagram I created on outside to mark any limited/covered areas. I can also use to pinpoint moisture from any item I found on exterior. It also makes it easier to find main panel.

I add the diagram I created to my HIP report.

Interesting comments by all so far.  I usually like to start on the outside BUT, with the weather we get in Washington, I make minor adjustments.  If it's raining when I get there, I start on the inside and HOPE it stops sometime during the inspection. If it has been raining a lot, I have to make sure I have additional shoes to go inside.

I like the kitchen followed by the baths.  With our requirement for a Pest Inspection and the majority of the homes having crawl spaces, I like to make sure I get enough water in the system to find any leaks. (conducive condition).  Everytime I pass a bathroom, I flush.  Minimum of 5 times for toilets on floor above crawl space.  All sinks get to run for at least 5 minutes.

Rest of interior followed by heating, electrical, garage.  Last is either the roof or the crawl space. UGH.  I like to do those last so I can gear up when necessary.

I'm a note and picture taker and report back at the house.  Emailed that evening.

Steve

It puts cold chills down my spine thinking about doing an inspection during the rainy weather you have up there in that part of the country, it has to almost make a guy wish he was in a different business--- ???

We are VERY lucky here, no rain, and no crawlspaces, or should I say I have not come across any crawlspaces in the last year or so, every now and then I'll run into a home built in the 50's which has one and I surely do not enjoy getting into them....scorpions, rattle snakes, etc, etc, things that make you say Ouch---:))

I have never seen a scorpion, but I have rattle snakes and they don't just make you say ouch...!!

Yes Dale, but how much fun are your attic inspections when it's 110 outside during the summer.