Home inspection services
Whether you are buying, selling, maintaining, or planning work, the inspection documents visible conditions, explains important context, and identifies appropriate next steps.
Visual inspection guide
Start with the overview, then choose any category to open its complete commonly reviewed list and property-specific limitations.
Editorial illustrations · not C&G client photography
Follow visible water, weather, access, and enclosure conditions toward the home.
Connect support, moisture, ventilation, and safe-access observations across concealed-adjacent spaces.
Review installed utility and comfort systems using normal controls when conditions permit.
Document representative finishes, fixtures, openings, safeguards, and visible room conditions.
How observations become useful
These are illustrative learning examples—not customer stories, actual C&G findings, or promises about a specific property.
The useful question is not only whether a stain exists. Roof exposure, attic access, drainage, interior finish condition, and visible moisture context may all matter.
The report can document what was visible and identify the appropriate independent evaluation without claiming a concealed source.
Grading, roof runoff, foundation adjacency, crawlspace access, and visible interior effects can help explain why a site observation deserves context.
Conditions at the inspection control what can be seen; drainage design and concealed damage remain outside a standard visual inspection.
Panel access, visible components, representative devices, occupant safety, and specialist scope are kept connected rather than reduced to a single label.
The inspection is not a code, engineering, or load analysis. When appropriate, the next step is evaluation by the relevant qualified professional.
Complete inspection scope
The list below describes areas commonly included in a residential inspection. It is not a promise that every item will be present, accessible, safe to operate, or included in every agreement.
Visible site conditions can help explain how water and access affect the structure.
Scope boundary: The inspection does not include surveying, soil or geotechnical analysis, underground drainage mapping, irrigation performance unless agreed, or prediction of flooding.
Exterior finishes and openings are reviewed from safe, visible vantage points.
Scope boundary: Paint and finish matching, concealed weather barriers, destructive moisture testing, and engineering analysis are outside a standard visual inspection.
The roof is observed by the safest practical method available on the inspection day.
Scope boundary: Access depends on height, material, slope, weather, condition, and safety. This is not a roof certification or leak guarantee.
Visible support components and related conditions are documented without engineering calculations.
Scope boundary: The inspection does not calculate loads, determine structural adequacy, design repairs, certify seismic performance, or provide engineering analysis.
Safely accessible under-floor areas can provide important structural and moisture context.
Scope boundary: Entry depends on opening size, clearance, water, animals, debris, suspected hazards, and other safety conditions. Unsafe areas are reported as limitations.
Visible attic conditions are reviewed where entry and movement are reasonably safe.
Scope boundary: The inspector does not disturb insulation, enter unsafe areas, or determine hidden damage, exact R-values, air leakage, or indoor-air quality unless separately agreed and supported.
Readily accessible electrical equipment and representative controls are observed for visible concerns.
Scope boundary: This is not an electrical-code certification, load calculation, exhaustive circuit trace, solar-production test, or concealed-wiring evaluation.
Visible supply, drainage, fixtures, and accessible connections are reviewed under normal controls.
Scope boundary: Sewer scoping, septic evaluation, water-quality testing, concealed or underground piping, destructive leak detection, and guaranteed pressure are not included unless separately agreed.
Accessible gas equipment and piping receive a limited visual review.
Scope boundary: A standard inspection is not a comprehensive gas-leak test, pressure test, utility clearance, or engineering determination. Suspected leakage requires immediate qualified action.
Visible water-heating equipment is observed for installation context and apparent condition.
Scope boundary: Age is reported only when supported by accessible manufacturer data. Remaining life, internal tank condition, water quality, and future leakage cannot be guaranteed.
Installed heating equipment is operated with normal controls when conditions permit.
Scope boundary: The inspection is not a combustion analysis, heat-exchanger certification, duct-leakage test, energy audit, or complete HVAC service.
Installed cooling equipment is operated only when weather and observed conditions allow safe use.
Scope boundary: Refrigerant charge, internal components, efficiency, and remaining life require specialist evaluation. Equipment may not be operated when doing so could cause damage.
Kitchen finishes, plumbing, protection, ventilation, and agreed built-in appliances are reviewed visibly.
Scope boundary: Appliance operation is a basic functional check, not a performance guarantee. Portable appliances, cosmetic wear, and recall research are outside scope unless stated.
Accessible fixtures, finishes, ventilation, and visible water effects are reviewed.
Scope boundary: Concealed waterproofing, hidden leaks, mold testing, destructive probing, and finish or sealant guarantees are not part of a standard inspection.
Visible laundry connections and related room conditions are reviewed without moving connected equipment.
Scope boundary: The inspector does not move connected appliances or verify concealed dryer ducts and plumbing.
Interior rooms are reviewed for visible condition, access, and common safety observations.
Scope boundary: Furniture, belongings, coverings, and finishes can conceal conditions. Cosmetic judgments and legal room-classification measurements are not included unless stated.
Accessible garage and carport conditions are reviewed using safe operating methods.
Scope boundary: Door testing depends on safe operation and current conditions. Fire-resistance observations are visual and are not a code certification.
Readily visible fireplace and chimney components are observed for apparent concerns.
Scope boundary: This is not a Level 2 chimney inspection, flue scan, cleaning, draft analysis, or certification for use. Specialist evaluation may be recommended before operation.
Some questions require a different service, qualification, test, or level of access.
Scope boundary: The signed agreement and property-specific conditions control the final scope. Appropriate specialist evaluation may be recommended when a question falls outside it.
Scope honesty
Access limitations and systems that were not operated should be documented. When a specialist is needed, the report explains who to contact and why—without turning the inspection into a repair sale.
Have a property in mind?
