Orlando Home Inspection

An Orlando home inspection may require specialized knowledge and experience. Be sure your home inspector has the experience and tools they will need to give you the highest quality home inspection in your specific situation.

An Orlando home inspection can require special skills.

The long season of warmth, clear skies and the closeness to water in the Orlando, Florida area make for

• Great vacations
• An attractive retirement destination
• A wonderful place to live.

Unfortunately, these weather factors create weather-oriented problems for Orlando residents:

• Hurricanes – Five times greater chance of a hurricane than the national average
• Tornados – Two times greater chance of a tornado than the national average
• Humidity – The average annual humidity ranges from a low of about 70 percent in the spring to around 80 percent in the summer

The wind and moisture issues confronted by Orlando homeowners can result in difficult issues such as mold and damage due to water and wind. Frequently, mold and wind are not covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy. This can keep a homeowner from making all the repairs that are necessary.

Orlando home inspection needs can include pre sale inspections, new home inspections and specialized inspections caused by specific concerns such as mold or water damage. It is important to hire a home inspector that has knowledge and experience in the type of inspection that is required.

Before a homebuyer is ready to make an offer on a home they want to know the home's condition so they can estimate what repairs and maintenance will be necessary. The more the inspector is able to detail the specific issues, the greater the value of the inspection to the prospective homebuyer.

A newly-constructed home requires an inspector who will concentrate on both the cosmetic and functional aspects of the home. A new home has not been lived in so it may not provide some of the clues that might be evident in an older home. For example, problems behind the walls may not be reflected on the face of the wall.

Manufactured housing often brings special inspection needs due to the construction process and materials. Some home inspectors have specialized experience in the special challenges created by the methods used in the creation and on-site assembly of this type of housing. They will be able to identify the key inspection points for this unique housing.

A home inspector can evaluate the home's ability to withstand the damage caused by strong winds. The inspector will look at the structural integrity, quality of building materials and age of the roof, porch and walls to complete their evaluation.

Water damage can be major as in the case of flooding where the damage is very visible. Water can also damage a home with the damage being largely invisible. For example, plumbing leaks or condensation behind the walls can eventually lead to mold problems and structural issues.

Mold problems may be visible or you might suspect a hidden mold problem if a room smells moldy. Frequently mold is hidden behind dry wall or paneling, under carpets or above ceiling tiles. In these situations, special tools may be required.

Thermal imaging uses infrared rays to locate variations in heat. An infrared camera can show variations in heat in both visible and hidden area. The imaging can usually locate:

• Moisture behind the walls
• Roof leaks
• Plumbing leaks
• Missing insulation
• Heat leaks
• Air conditioning leaks
• Mold

A moisture meter can detect accumulated moisture that may not be visible with the naked eye. The inspector will frequently use the moisture meter to inspect insulation, dry wall, behind siding, under carpets and flooring and above ceiling tiles.

As with many metropolitan areas, Orlando has many home inspection companies. When selecting a home inspector, look for the following:

• Certification – Are they certified by an organization such as American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI} and the Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI)? If they provide termite inspections, are they licensed by the state of Florida?
• Experience – How many years of experience do they have inspecting home situations like yours?
• High tech tools – What special tools and equipment will they be using? Will they use thermal imaging or moisture meters?
• Reporting – How many pages is their average inspection report? Will it include photos?
• References – What references can they provide? Is the inspection company a member of the local Better Business Bureau?

Find an Orlando home inspector using a local inspector directory.

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