Serving Northern Vermont

A Professional Home Inspection is performed by our Certified Inspector with training and credentials allowing a complete, non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property, performed for a fee, which is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by these Standards that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector.  The scope of work may be modified by the Client and Inspector prior to the inspection process.

• The home inspection is based on the observations made on the date of the inspection, and not a prediction of future conditions.
• The home inspection will not reveal every issue that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the date of the inspection.
• A home cannot pass or fail a home inspection - it is an assessment of only what is seen at the time of the inspection.
• For every inspection, we follow the interNACHI standards of practice. There are no inspection practices that deviate from these standards of practice unless a particular item or area is discussed before the inspection begins. 
• One inspection is neither more or less complete than another as we strive for consistent representation within all of our inspections.
• After every inspection, a Spectora report is generated that includes easy to follow information and images relating to various defects found during the inspection.  

Our pre-listing inspection is performed for a Seller to discover, visible defects in advance of listing a property for sale. Correcting defects in advance will increase sale value and enhance negotiating ability during the purchase process. This inspection will follow the same interNACHI standards that a Home Inspection would including a Spectora report. 

Our site assessments are typically performed for commercial lenders or a non local landlord seeking to evaluate the condition of a property. Many times a lender or landlord may not live in the area and travel is not possible. These assessments can also be helpful for seasonal property users that need a set of eyes to check on things in their absence. 

Maintenance Inspections are great for those that aren’t skilled with home related repairs and need a trusted professional to assist in creating reasonable expectations and planning repairs or improvements. 

This is a home inspection but with greater communication after the report is delivered. We personally walk, talk and describe the noteworthy observations. After a walk through, the homeowner will be confidently informed when a contractor arrives to perform repairs and present any estimates. 

Many times a homeowner is unaware of items that may be deemed defective or in need of correction - these items can prove costly if left unattended. After the inspection, we personally discuss, show, explain etc the defect and what might be the homeowners best course for corrective measures. We can suggest an order of importance as we know budgets are limited in most cases. All interNACHI standards of practice will be followed along with providing a Spectora report for future reference. 

A roof inspection deals specifically with a roof and is useful when an insurance company needs a professional report to renew insurance or if a homeowner is just curious about the condition of their roof as they budget proactively for large expenses. 

In some cases a roof is too steep, too wet, too fragile (tile or slate etc) too high, or too structurally dangerous to safely walk upon or view from the eaves. In those cases we offer drone inspections with digital photos of our observations. After we inspect the exterior roof covering an attic inspection (when/if accessible) will be performed to further observe the support structure and note any observed defects. A Spectora roof inspection report will be provided. 

We offer Phase I Chimney inspections that both meet and exceed interNachi standards of practice.  This inspection is primarily useful for chimneys that are in routine use and have not experienced structural or fire damage or long periods of dormancy.

We inspect visible portions of the exterior surfaces and visible attachments to the home, chimney flashing, chimney cap, and Flue cap/spark arrestor, we observe the interior of the flue with a camera looking for debris buildup, flue condition and presence of a liner. We observe the in-home portions of the chimney structure to make sure that the visible and manually operable elements of a fireplace system are functional and are not showing signs of deterioration. We look for areas that may pose combustion risks and finally the proper presence of smoke and CO2 alarms. A report including photos detailing our inspection observations will be presented at the end of the inspection. 

Our Water Testing Services are provided in partnership with the Department of Health in Vermont. Many tests are available for very specific needs but two are most applicable to homeowners in Vermont. We obtain the test kit, collect the samples as required and return samples to the lab. Results will be delivered once available. 

Test 1: Basic tests for total coliform bacteria & E. coli in either well, spring or municipal systems.

Test 2: Comprehensive test for total coliform bacteria and E. coli; gross alpha radioactivity; arsenic, fluoride, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, uranium, chloride, sodium, iron, odor and ph; first draw lead.

*We have more specific tests available. Please email us for information on radon in water or other chemical water testing.

Thermal Analysis can assist a homeowner or contractor with finding possible water and air leaks, which goes a long way to saving money otherwise spent on energy and repairs. This assessment is also helpful for homeowners or remodelers seeking to enhance their home efficiency during a project.

Thermal Analysis is a proven method for observing hot and cold spots within a home. With the color spectrum that shows very small air or water intrusions within areas of normal temperatures, leaks can be observed, repaired and efficiency increased. 

We walk through the home and slowly scan each room. In bedrooms and living rooms, its common to find a cold light switch cover or leaky window but also observe areas of poor insulation in walls, attics and ceilings. In kitchen and bathrooms it is possible to observe very small water leaks  that might go undetected. These water leaks are observed commonly in wood and sheetrock, even in ceilings below such areas.