Residential Home Inspections

Graceland Home Inspections conducts residential home inspections in New Castle, PA and Youngstown, OH and surrounding Lawrence County and Mahoning County areas. Our Western PA and Eastern OH home inspections are for both area buyers and sellers.

Why Do Buyers Need a Home Inspection?

If you’re buying a property, purchasing a new home can be the single biggest investment you make in your lifetime. We understand the magnitude of this investment and we will inspect the home as if we’re buying it ourselves.

It’s important that you’re reassured the house you’re buying is structurally sound, safe, and secure for you and your family. What may look like your “dream home” may not always be so in reality. A home that’s been prettied up cosmetically for presentation purposes, but is riddled with problems under the surface.

A thorough inspection of the home can prevent you from unknowingly purchasing problems that lurk in the walls, basement, or attic. You deserve to know if there are any issues and if the home is being misrepresented.

Read “10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Skip a Residential Home Inspection” at Investopedia.com

Why Should Sellers Get a Home Inspection?

For sellers, although it may seem like an unnecessary expense to pay for your own home inspection, it can pay off in the long run. First, it’s a means of avoiding ugly surprises being found during the buyer’s home inspection without you having to foot the bill for repairs or come down on your asking price.

If you have a home inspection prior to putting your home on the market, you can either repair the issues yourself – confidently listing the property in “top condition” – or sell the home “as-is” with a price that reflects the fully disclosed repairs needed.

A thorough home inspection also keeps sellers from overpricing their house right out of the gate. An overpriced home will sit on the market and look less and less appealing to suitors the longer its sale is delayed.

Read “Should Sellers Pay For a Home Inspection?” at FOX Business News.

How Much Do Home Inspections Cost?

Most residential inspections cost just 1/10th of 1% of the purchase price. The actual cost of a home inspection will vary based on the size of the house. The more square footage, the more you’ll pay.

While we’re competitively priced with other New Castle and Youngstown area home inspectors, we urge you to resist any temptation to shop for the cheapest home inspector. The inspectors at Graceland Home Inspection are all licensed and experienced in the structural and mechanical construction of all residential properties – single-family homes, multi-family homes, condominiums, and both older and new constructions.

Our house inspections are performed with the utmost quality, professionalism, thoroughness, and integrity.

What’s Included in a Residential Inspection?

Our inspections typically last for 2 to 3 hours. We encourage you to be present for a first hand explanation of our findings so we can answer any questions may have. You’ll get a better idea of the issues/problems uncovered if you can see them with your own eyes, as we explain them to you, rather than relying solely on a report and snapshot photos.

Our inspector will note:

  • Major and minor defects
  • Safety issues
  • Items in need of repair or service
  • Items in need of replacement
  • Items that are okay for now but should be monitored
  • Recommended routine maintenance

Our exterior residential inspection includes:

  • Exterior Wall Inspection – We’ll look for cracks, damaged or missing siding, and whether or not there’s excessive soil close to the bottom of the house that is inviting to termites and other wood-destroying insects. We’ll point out cosmetic deficiencies and note potentially serious issues requiring a pest inspector’s attention.
  • Roof Inspection – We’ll utilize drone technology to look for damaged areas of your roof, assess the condition of the gutters, and make note of any installation problems like missing, loose, or improperly secured shingles and any mastic damage near vents. If these kinds of issues are ignored, water will enter the structure.
  • Drone Inspection – We offer thorough, safe, and efficient examinations of your property from a unique aerial perspective.
  • Foundation Inspection – Without a strong foundation, a structure becomes a pile of rubble. Our inspectors look for signs of potential foundation problems such as settling and cracks.
  • Garage or Carport Inspection – We’ll test the garage door to ensure it properly opens and closes, check visible garage framing, and make sure the space is properly ventilated to prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Grading – Our inspectors will make sure grading is sloped away from the structure. If it isn’t, water will enter the structure and do significant damage.

Our interior residential inspections include:

  • Electrical Inspection – We’ll identify the type of wiring in your home and inspect your electrical panel and outlets to make sure they’re safe and present no fire hazards. Our home inspectors will also test outlets and make sure ground fault circuit interrupters in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoors are working to protect you and your loved ones from electrocution and electrical burns or shock.
  • Plumbing Inspection – We’ll identify where the home’s main water shutoff valve is. Visible pipes running to and from the house will be inspected. We’ll test the water pressure, all faucets and showers, and look for visible leaks underneath sinks, etc. We may recommend a secondary inspection to determine if old pipes need to be replaced.
  • HVAC Inspection – Our inspectors will look closely at the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (AC) systems to determine their age, condition, and whether or not any maintenance or repairs are needed. The home’s ductwork will also be evaluated to determine its age and if there’s any leaks.
  • Water Heater Inspection – We’ll identify the age of the heater and make sure it’s been properly installed and it’s secure. Our inspectors will also advise you on the overall condition.
  • Bathroom Inspection – Our inspectors will look for any visible leaks, make sure toilets and sinks are properly secured, and the bathroom is properly ventilated. A bathroom that isn’t properly ventilated by a fan or window can lead to mold and mildew problems.
  • Laundry Area/Room Inspection – A poorly maintained dryer-exhaust system poses a serious fire risk.
  • Fire Safety Inspection – Our inspectors will check the home’s smoke detectors to make sure they’re working properly. We will also note the fire rating of any attached garage and ensure the wall hasn’t been damaged in any way that compromises its fire safety.
  • Radon Inspection – Radon is a cancer-causing colorless and odorless naturally-occurring gas that forms from the decay of radioactive elements in soil and rock like uranium. This gas can enter a home through cracks or openings in a structure’s foundation. Radon is harmful to you and your family’s health. It’s estimated that radon is the root cause of about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Radon can be present in both new and old homes. Since you and your family’s health is at risk, Graceland Home Inspections offers optional radon testing as part of our residential inspections in the New Castle PA area.

Protect your investment, you, and your family.

The home inspectors at Graceland take our profession very seriously. We know our inspection is an integral part of what may very well be the biggest investment of your life. You need someone that’s on your side. Pick up the phone today and call (724) 614-2198 to schedule a residential home inspection in New Castle and Youngstown and surrounding areas.