| Certified Inspections in Palmdale and Lancaster CA, Antelope and Santa Clarita Valley | |
| Client(s): | Mr. and Mrs. Sample Client |
| Property address: | Anywhere Tim Spargo Palmdale, CA 93550 |
| Inspection date: | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 |
This report is the exclusive property of this inspection company and the client(s) listed in the report title. Use of this report by any unauthorized persons is prohibited.
 | Safety | Poses a risk of injury or death |
 | Repair/Replace | Recommend repairing or replacing |
 | Repair/Maintain | Recommend repair and/or maintenance |
 | Minor Defect | Correction likely involves only a minor expense |
 | Maintain | Recommend ongoing maintenance |
 | Evaluate | Recommend evaluation by a specialist |
 | Monitor | Recommend monitoring in the future |
 | Comment | For your information |
Click here for a glossary of building construction terms.
Contact your inspector if there are terms that you do not understand, or visit the glossary of construction terms at http://www.reporthost.com/glossary.asp| General information | Return to table of contents |
This property has one or more fuel burning appliances, and no carbon monoxide alarms are visible. This is a safety hazard. Recommend installing one or more carbon monoxide alarms as necessary and as per the manufacturer's instructions. For more information, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml05/05017.html
| Exterior | Return to table of contents |
One or more trip hazards were found in sidewalk and/or patio sections due to protrusion of CB type straps.
 Photo 10 "CB" type straps sitting up in concrete. Tripping hazard
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Sidewalks and/or patios have void in area against rear of home A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace sidewalk and/or patio sections as necessary.
 Photo 11 void in concrete area in rear of home.
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One or more crawl space vent screens are missing. Animals such as vermin or pets may enter the crawl space and nest, die and/or leave feces and urine. A qualified contractor should install screens where missing using screen material such as "hardware cloth" with 1/4 inch minimum gaps.
Minor cracks in stucco noted.
 Photo 15 Minor cracks in stucco. Cosmetic
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Caulk is missing or deteriorated in some areas and should be replaced and/or applied where necessary. For more information on caulking, visit The Ins and Outs of Caulking.
The exterior finish in some areas is failing. A qualified contractor should prep (pressure wash, scrape, sand, prime caulk, etc.) and repaint or restain areas as needed and as per standard building practices.
Minor cracks were found in the driveway. However they don't appear to be a structural concern and no trip hazards were found. No immediate action is recommended, but the client(s) may wish to have repairs made or have cracked sections replaced for aesthetic reasons.
 Photo 4 Minor Cracks in Drive/Walkway areas
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| Roof | Return to table of contents |
One or more roofing tiles are chipped and/or cracked. A qualified roofing contractor should evaluate and replace tiles as necessary.
 Photo 2 Slipped / Broken Tiles around roof flashing
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One or more roofing tiles have slipped, and are loose. A qualified roofing contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.
 Photo 3 Slipped tiles
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| Garage | Return to table of contents |
Garage Door opener has excessive slack in chain. Suggest having qualified contractor service.
 Photo 22 Excessive slack in drive chain for garage door opener. Recommend having unit serviced by qualified contractor.
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The weatherstrip around one or more exterior entry doors is missing and/or deteriorated. Weatherstrip should be installed where missing and/or replaced where deteriorated, and by a qualified contractor if necessary.
 Photo 23 Weatherstripping missing from garage exterior door
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| Attic | Return to table of contents |
| Electric service | Return to table of contents |
Neutral wires are doubled or bundled together on the neutral bus bar. This is unsafe due to the need to turn off multiple circuit breakers to work on any of the circuits using these wires. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary.
 Photo 46 Double tap connections exist in main panel. Suggest having qualified electrical contractor evaluate.
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Low voltage interior lighting was found during the inspection. This is considered to be a specialty system. Only a cursory evaluation of this lighting was performed during the inspection. For a full evaluation, the client(s) should hire a qualified electrician.
| Water heater | Return to table of contents |
The water heater was turned off at the time of the inspection. For example, circuit breaker turned off, gas supply turned off or pilot light turned off. The inspector was unable to fully evaluate the water heater.| Heating and cooling | Return to table of contents |
As noted, flex duct has damage to vapor barrier. Suggest having qualified contractor repair.
 Photo 45 Flex duct has damage to vapor barrier.
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The cooling fins on the outdoor condensing unit's evaporator coils are bent, damaged and/or deteriorated. This may result in reduced efficiency and higher energy costs. A qualified heating and cooling contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.
 Photo 8 condensor coils showing signs of corrosion. Recommend service
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Insulation for the outside condensing unit's refrigerant lines is damaged, deteriorated and/or missing in one or more areas. This may result in reduced efficiency and increased energy costs. A qualified heating and cooling contractor should replace insulation as necessary.
 Photo 9 Insulation missing from copper lines to external compressor / condensor unit
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Air handler filter(s) are dirty and should be replaced now. They should be checked monthly in the future and replaced as necessary.
| Plumbing and laundry | Return to table of contents |
Stains were found in one or more sections of drain and/or waste pipes. Recommend monitoring these areas in the future, and if leaks are found, have a qualified plumber evaluate and repair as necessary. Alternatively, the client(s) may wish to have a qualified plumber evaluate now and repair if necessary.
 Photo 32 evidence of corrosion at washer hookups in laundry area.
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| Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys | Return to table of contents |
Significant amounts of ashes, wood and/or debris are in the fireplace. The inspector was unable to fully evaluate it. Photo 41 Broken handle for fireplace
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| Kitchen | Return to table of contents |
The dishwasher is excessively noisy. A qualified appliance technician should evaluate and repair as necessary, or the dishwasher should be replaced.
 Photo 39 Dishwasher has noisy operation. May be near end of serviceable life.
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One or more faucets leak by handle(s) or at their base when turned on. A qualified plumber should evaluate and repair as necessary.
Drawers are difficult to open and close in one or more cabinets. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.
 Photo 43 Loose / mis-aligned hardware present on cabinets such as this drawer
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Hardware such as hinges, latches or pulls are loose and/or missing on one or more cabinets. Repairs should be made and/or hardware should be replaced as necessary, and by a qualified contractor if necessary.
 Photo 42 Cabinets slightly weathered. Missing cutting board as well.
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Caulk is missing and/or deteriorated where countertops meet backsplashes in wet areas, such as around sinks. Caulk should be replaced where deteriorated and/or applied where missing to prevent water damage.
 Photo 44 Grout / sealant missing in wet areas Kitchen
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One or more kitchen appliances appear to be near, at, or beyond their intended service life of 10 to 15 years. Recommend budgeting for replacements as necessary. Photo 38 Stove controls / knobs damaged / broken Kitchen
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Water stains and/or minor water damage was found in the shelving or cabinet components below the sink. The client(s) should evaluate and consider having repairs made.
 Photo 6 evidence of current/prior leak under kitchen sink
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| Bathrooms | Return to table of contents |
Vanity mirror broken master bedroom
 Photo 27 Broken Vanity in Master Bathroom
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One or more sink drains have an active leak. For example, at pipe fittings and/or junctions between pipe and sink. A qualified plumber should evaluate and repair as necessary.
 Photo 18 current / prior leak under bathroom sink
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One or more toilets appear to be clogged, and/or do not flush adequately. A qualified plumber should evaluate and make repairs or replace toilet(s) as necessary.
 Photo 5 Master toilet clogged with debris
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One or more faucet handles are loose or missing and should be repaired or replaced as necessary.
 Photo 17 trim loose to bathroom shower controls
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| Interior rooms | Return to table of contents |
One or more smoke alarms are damaged, deteriorated and/or missing from their mounting brackets. Damaged and/or missing smoke alarms should be replaced as necessary so a functioning one exists in each hallway leading to bedrooms, and in each bedroom. For more information, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5077.html
 Photo 24 smoke detector missing
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 Photo 26 missing smoke detector
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One or more electric receptacles/switches are broken or damaged. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of fire and shock. A qualified electrician should replace them as necessary.
 Photo 29 Damaged electrical switch / adjacent to stairway area
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 Photo 31 Damaged electrical switch
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Cover plate(s) are broken at one or more electric boxes, such as for receptacles, switches and/or junction boxes. They are intended to contain fire and prevent electric shock from exposed wires. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of fire and shock. Cover plates should be replaced where necessary.
One or more electric receptacles appear to have no power. Recommend asking the property owner(s) about this. Switches may need to be operated to make some receptacles energized. If necessary, a qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.
 Photo 40 Outlet in Livingroom not functioning properly. Inspector was not able to find switch location to control this outlet. Suggest having qualified contractor verify operation.
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Screen(s) in one or more windows are missing. The client(s) should ask the property owner(s) about this. Screens are often removed for window cleaning and they may be stored somewhere. If not, then recommend installing screens where missing.
Glass in one or more windows is broken. A qualified contractor should replace glass where necessary.
 Photo 12 Several Broken windows
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 Photo 13 another example of broken windows
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One or more interior doors are damaged and/or deteriorated and should be repaired or replaced by a qualified contractor.
 Photo 28 Broken interior door / Master Bedroom
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Exterior door to rear / patio area damaged at jamb and trim
 Photo 16 jamb / trim damaged to exterior rear door
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Various interior cabinets in need of service
 Photo 34 Various cabinets have shelf paper lifting thru out . In need of cleaning as well.
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Carpeting in one or more rooms is soiled and/or stained. Recommend having carpeting professionally cleaned as necessary.
 Photo 30 various stains on carpet
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