Inspector Toolbox

By Frank G. Ross

 

Home inspections are not a required step in the purchase of a home, but they are highly recommended and are becoming a standard part of the process. To minimize unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties, homebuyers will want to learn as much as they can about a newly constructed or existing house that they are considering for purchase.

 

A home inspector will check a variety of things such as the home's plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems, and look for structural problems like a damp basement or leaky attic.  The inspector’s job is to visually examine accessible areas of the home and then report on deficiencies or positive features.  A home inspection may identify the need for major repairs or builder oversights, as well as the need for maintenance to keep it in good shape. After the inspection, a buyer will receive a comprehensive report detailing the condition of the house, which will assist him or her in making decisions with confidence.

 

The following is a list of tools essential for doing home inspections. Their use is directly related to deciphering defects in a house.

 

Tool Carrier

I carry a canvas tool bag that holds most of my tools and wear a small tool belt that holds the tools that I use more frequently.

 

Flashlight

A rechargeable high-intensity light is basic to a comprehensive home inspection. If you can't see it, you can't inspect it.

 

Spot Light

A spot light is useful for attics and crawlspaces. I like the handheld rechargeable kind that is at least 2 million candlepower.

 

Spare flashlight and fresh batteries

If you can't see it, you can't inspect it.

 

Moisture Meter

A moisture meter is used to confirm whether a water stain is 'active' or wet. A stain may appear dry visually and to touch but when tested may have high moisture content.

 

Laser thermometer

Using a laser thermometer allows me to take the temperature of the air registers and the air return register even if they are out of reach. The laser thermometer I use can test the temperature up to 40 feet away with an accuracy of less than ½ of a degree.

 

Polarity Checker with GFCI test button

This handheld tester quickly checks if a receptacle is wired properly. It will also test a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) to make sure it is working properly.

 

Binoculars

When I can’t get close enough to see directly I use binoculars to get as close as I can.  I use them to check remote roofs, windowsills, soffits, etc.

 

Ladder

To inspect the roof and attic a dependable ladder is a must. It needs to be long enough to reach at least the edge of the roof. I carry two ladders, a six foot step ladder that will access most attic hatches and a fold up ladder that can be either an eight foot step ladder or a sixteen foot extension ladder.  

 

Awl

This tool is used to probe for dry rot and termite damage in floor joists, base trim, thresholds and other wood items.

 

Compass

A compass can come in handy for checking the direction the house faces which is something I note in every report. Sometimes in describing the location of a defect specific directions are useful.

 

Screwdrivers - Both Phillips and blade.

A visual inspection does not require taking things apart but at times I find it necessary to use a screw driver to take off the breaker panel cover or to remove a cover to a crawlspace or to open the tub access panel if it is under the bathroom sink.

 

Heavy-duty leather gloves

These are good for handling ladders on a hot day.  They also offer protection when inspecting a crawlspace.

 

Coveralls

Most crawlspaces have dirt floors and little headroom, as the name implies, although I did see one crawlspace that had been carpeted.  I wear coveralls not only to protect my clothes, but so I can remove the dirt and cobwebs picked up in the crawlspace by simply removing the coveralls. 

 

Extra Shoes

On snowy or rainy days an extra pair of shoes to wear outside keeps me from tracking in mud, water or snow. This is the same pair I wear when inspecting crawlspaces.

 

Respirator
I use a respirator when I enter a crawlspace, look in, or enter an attic. A respirator protects the wearer from accumulated dust and insulation fibers.

 

Rags

A lot of times I go places in a home where no one has been in years.  A handy rag helps keep my hands clean or can be used to remove layers of dust from something I need to see such as a furnace identification plate.

 

Wire ties

For the information of the buyers I mark the location of the shut off for the water heater, water main, gas, electricity and furnace by attaching a labeled tag with a wire tie.

 

Digital Camera

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  Sometimes I find something that a buyer needs to see to understand the problem so I include a digital picture of it in the report.

 

Laptop and printer

Since the inspection report I provide is computer-generated I carry a laptop and printer with me as well.  The report is printed on-site and provided to the buyers at the conclusion of the inspection.

 

A professional home inspector with the right tools can conduct a thorough visual inspection providing homebuyers with a wealth of information about a house.  A quality inspection report will help buyers make informed decisions and can offer peace of mind.

 

Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and a member in good standing with the Utah Better Business Bureau.  Readers may contact Mr. Ross at (435) 867-6400 or frank.ross@pillartopost.com or www.pillarposthomeinspection.com