As 2023 comes to a close, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back at some of the fails, highlights and all-around anomalies we have seen this year. Our company handles a large number of home inspections and rental inspections across the CO Front Range. So naturally, our inspectors are going to come across some eye-opening things from time to time. Let’s dive in!

Pests In The Panel

One of our inspectors came across this electrical panel during a routine Denver rental license inspection. That’s a lot of rodent droppings. Rodents like to chew, which is not a good combination with electrical wires. This could lead to power outages, fire hazards, or even electrocution. You better evict those furry neighbors asap!

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A Definite Inspection Fail

We have been conducting a large quantity of Denver rental inspections, so we see quite a few property defects, most of which are fairly minor. But the pictures above are a huge red flag. Water heaters configured like that will result in CO2 gas emptying into the living space. Yikes! Get those heaters properly vented NOW!

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That’s One Moldy Attic

 

This is a great example of what happens when your attic is not ventilated properly. Look at all that mold!

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Pests In the Pergola

Termites certainly had a feast on this pergola.

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Interesting Shower Tiling Work

Looks like the home owner took some artistic liberties on the shower tiling. Interesting choice in material, but not sure if it’s going to hold up.

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A Lovely Backyard

  

This was from one of our rental license inspections. You can tell the tenants have a great sense of design, also a really impressive collection of beer cans.

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Got Foundational Issues?

As you can see, this foundation has some serious stair step cracking and needs immediate evaluation.

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Could Be Cleaner…

  

Is it just us, or could this property use a good cleaning?

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Is That Supposed to be In There?

 

The above photos are from one of our sewer scope inspections. The cap that is supposed to close off the sewer clean out is literally inside the pipe. We’re pretty sure that’s not supposed to be in there! By the way, this was a sewer line in a 2023 home. Get those sewer lines checked out!

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Subpar Clean Out Placement

Whoever installed this sewer line clean out wasn’t really thinking ahead. A clean out is supposed to allow EASY access to the sewer line – not in this case!

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A Bit of Clutter

As you can see, this homeowner was an avid collector…of everything. It’s generally a bit harder to conduct an inspection in homes like these!

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Toilet From the Future

This is a new one: an all-in-one sink/toilet combo. The sink runs as the toilet tank refills. Pretty cool!

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The Wrong Vent To Seal!

Are you wondering why your toilets aren’t flushing properly and why the house smells like sewage? This might just be the culprit! Keeping the main plumbing vent unobstructed is key to helping water/air flow through the plumbing and reducing odors.

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Water Heater Graveyard

One of our inspectors opened up a tankless water heater only to discover thousands of dead winged-ants (and some yellow jackets). Well, that’s a first!

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Cat Scan

Ever wonder what an infra-red scan of a cat looks like? Well, look no further.

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Furry Friends

One of the best parts about doing home inspections in Colorado is meeting the occasional, curious wildlife. These are a few of our favorites from this year.

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There you have it – some of the weirdest, craziest, grossest, coolest and cutest encounters our inspectors have had in 2023. Wishing you a great holiday and Happy New Year from Scott Home Services!

When it comes to purchasing a home, it’s always wise to “look before you leap.” In other words, buyers should familiarize themselves with a property as much as possible before taking that final, monetary “leap.” That’s why home inspections are so crucial.

By hiring a qualified professional to conduct an inspection, a home buyer will be able to learn more about the property and its concerns, if any. That way, when it’s time to make the final decision on whether or not to proceed with the deal, the buyer will be able to make a choice that is educated and informed.

There are three main types of inspections, each with its own pros and cons: General Home Inspections, Walk & Talk Inspections, and Specialized Inspections. In this blog, we will break down each of these inspection types. By the end, we hope that you will know which inspection is right for you!

General Home Inspections

This is the most common type of inspection. During a general inspection, the inspector will cover all major systems and components of the home. These inspectors are usually certified by one (or both) of the industry standard home inspection associations (InterNACHI or ASHI). They will also follow the inspection standards established by ASHI.

Inspectors will be well equipped with a solid base of knowledge regarding all components of the home. However, they will not necessarily be specialists. As a result, some of the issues identified during the inspection may be out of the scope of the inspector’s knowledge. In these cases, the inspector will recommend consultation with the necessary expert.

This general inspection covers every aspect of a home and will call out minor items and major items. A full comprehensive home inspection gives you a detailed snapshot in time of the condition of the home.

At the end of the inspection, you will be provided with an extensive, detailed report that illustrates all of the concerns noted onsite. The inspector will present his/her findings, and the buyer or agent will have an opportunity to ask any questions.

To see an example of a Scott Home Inspection Report, click here.

One of the most significant benefits to a general home inspection is that you can use the inspection report as a negotiation tool. If the buyer and agent plan to make any objections, the report can be utilized as a viable source of professional documentation. Simply put – your objection claims are more likely to be accepted when backed by a licensed home inspector.

Walk & Talk Inspections

Compared to standard home inspections, walk & talk inspections are much more of a general overview. While the inspector does do a full overview of the home, it is much quicker and less thorough than a general home inspection.

These types of inspections are especially good with “as is” home transactions. Sometimes buyers know that, if they want to make an offer, they will have to do so without a home inspection.

This type of inspection is somewhat of a work-around in situations where buyers need to waive their inspection in order to make a competitive offer. In these cases, an inspector will join the prospective buyer(s) and their agent during an initial tour of the home.

The inspector will walk the premises and give a verbal evaluation of the home as he/she walks along. Due to the short duration of these inspections, the inspectors will mainly keep an eye out for big ticket items that could potentially be deal breakers.

The inspector will not be entering attics, removing electric panels, opening HVAC units etc. A flashlight is the only tool utilized during a walk & talk. Also, given its brief and general nature, a walk & talk inspection does not need to adhere to ASHI inspection standards.

Contrary to a general inspection, there are usually no written reports during a walk & talk. Buyers are encouraged to take notes on their own during the process. This can be an effective method for the buyer if they are just interested in learning more about the property. However, in the case that contract objections are permitted, it might be harder for the buyer to negotiate without an official inspection report.

It is also worth noting that walk & talk inspections will be the cheapest of the three home inspection options.

If you do go under contract, it is still a good idea to get a full home inspection (even if you already had the walk & talk). But in this competitive market, sometimes that is just not an option and you must waive the inspection all together.

Specialized Inspections

Specialized inspections involve hiring an expert to evaluate a particular component of the home. You can hire out any type of specialist depending on your needs. Some examples are structural engineers, plumbing specialists, roofing contractors etc.

These inspections can be quite beneficial, in that you get a more in-depth evaluation and inspection report of the specific component in question. Also, one of their key benefits is that you can usually get accurate estimates on repairs. This is different from a general home inspection, where the inspector can evaluate concerns but usually cannot present repair estimates. And when it comes time to make any contract objections, specialized inspection reports can prove to be very strong negotiation tools.

The disadvantage of getting multiple specialists instead of a general home inspection is you are more focused on single components and don’t get the bigger picture of the overall condition of the home. It is usually best to get a general home inspection in addition to any specialized inspections.

Specialized inspections also get pretty costly – especially if you wish to hire multiple specialists. However, hiring a specialist might help you acquire the valuable information you need to make your final decision on the deal.

In many cases, buyers will hire out specialized inspections due to a known existing concern. For instance, the seller might disclose that the home had previous foundational issues. In that situation, it’s probably prudent to hire a structural engineer to evaluate the current condition of the foundation.

As you can see, there are numerous options and combinations when it comes to choosing the right home inspection. It really all depends on your specific situation and preferences. We hope this blog has helped to provide you with some more clarity on the matter

Scott Home Inspections

At Scott Home Inspection, a division of Scott Home Services, LLC, we specialize in general home inspections. This has been our flagship service for 15+ years; and we are one of the leading home inspection companies in Colorado. It is also the most common inspection type that agents recommend.

When you choose to have Scott Home Inspection perform your pre-purchase home inspection, our support doesn’t end with the inspection and report. Through our Ask Your Inspector program, we provide ongoing support to you via email, phone calls, and with our extensive knowledge base of information.

If you are in need of an inspection, we hope that you will consider Team Scott! Feel free to visit us online for more info or contact us to schedule your service today. We are here to help you “look before you leap!”

The exterior of a home is a very important thing. It provides the armor that protects its inhabitants from the unpredictable elements of the world. The foundation, siding, windows and roof work together to (hopefully) keep you safe and sound in your humble abode.

But as important as all those elements are, they would be lost without their surrounding allies – grading and drainage.

Explaining Grading and Drainage?

Grading refers to the slope of your property, specifically the slope that helps water drain away from your home’s foundation. During construction, builders will commonly shape the earth around the building in a declined configuration to achieve proper grading (as shown in the picture below).

Even driveways and landscaping should generally have a downward slope. The ideal slope surrounding your house should be at a 5% grade. However, grading can vary considerably from home to home.

Once the water travels away from your foundation, you don’t want it to collect in another location on the property. That’s where proper drainage comes into play. Drainage refers to the channels and systems that are designed to collect and move water away from your home.

There are several common types of drainage techniques that can be utilized depending on the building project.

Both grading and drainage should be implemented together in order to ensure that water flows away from your home and toward a specified destination (such as a storm drain).

Why Is Proper Grading and Drainage So Important?

As we discussed in our past article, Moisture Control in Homes: A “Watershed” Moment, moisture can enter the home through multiple routes. One of the most common modes of moisture entry is through the foundation.

When poor grading and/or drainage is present, water can start to pool around your home. This can lead to a number of issues.

First of all, as the moisture builds up around the foundation, it will eventually apply hydrostatic pressure onto the foundation. This is the biggest issue caused by poor grading in Colorado (and many other regions).

Hydrostatic pressure is “the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at any point of time due to the force of gravity.”

In other words, as water gathers up against the foundation, the force of gravity will cause it to exert pressure. As the pressure increases, the water will make its way through any tiny cracks or openings that may be present.

Temperature fluctuations can cause expansion, potentially intensifying cracks in the foundation. Water can make its way into vulnerable parts of the foundation, causing flooding and water damage. And in worst-case scenarios, the foundation wall can bow and fail.

Moisture intrusion in the home can start to initiate a domino effect. It can cause mold growth, and weaken wood components of the structure.

Furthermore, with water draining toward your house, surrounding landscaping could become saturated. This then introduces its own set of issues, such as dead plants and flowers, weed growth, and other unsightly problems.

You may have achieved proper grading, with water flowing safely away from the foundation. But as stated above, it is a two-step process. Drainage methods must also be properly configured, in order to direct the water off of the property. Otherwise, a whole list of other potential issues could occur.

With water pooling up in the yard, you may start to see dying grass and/or damage to surrounding foliage. Also, puddles of stagnant, standing water will start to attract pesky insects, such as mosquitos.

Not to mention, a mushy, waterlogged lawn can eventually turn into a mud pit – especially if you have dogs! Needless to say, proper grading and drainage is a key element to a thriving property.

Inspecting The Grading and Drainage Of A Home

During our standard home inspections, grading and drainage are two key elements of the exterior inspection. Our inspectors pay close attention to the exterior, assessing the slope of the property and looking for any signs of water pooling around the home’s foundation.

Additionally, the inspector will look at drainage methods in the yard and on the house itself. We make sure that all gutters are intact and unobstructed, and that downspout extensions are utilized when necessary.

In the case that defective grading or drainage methods are observed, we will be sure to make note of it in the final report. The photo below illustrates a situation when one of our inspectors noted a section of the home with flat to negative grade. Although no structural or moisture concerns were noted at the time of inspection, long-term issues could potentially occur in the future. Therefore, this defect was called out for repair.

Are you in need of a home inspection? Here at Scott Home Inspection, it is our goal to provide you with a non-biased, thorough, and professional assessment of the property – no matter if it’s grading, drainage, or any other aspect of the home!

For more information about our services, visit us at TeamScott.com or contact us to schedule your inspection today!