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IL License
#451.0002211
IL Entity License
#051.0000637
ASHI Membership
#246660
Misc. Memberships and
Affiliations
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PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of a property inspection is to provide the client with a better understanding of the property conditions, as observed at the time of the inspection.
A Condreay & Associates Property Inspection observes readily accessible installed systems and components. We will submit a formal report to the client, which will describe those components, state which systems and components designated for inspection have been inspected, and state any systems and components inspected which were found to be in need of immediate or major repair.
Systems or components can be excluded from the inspection if requested by the client. |
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GENERAL LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Inspections done in accordance with ASHI Standards, are visual and are not
technically exhaustive.
Exclusions: Inspections are NOT required to report on:
- Life expectancy of any component or system.
- The causes of the need for a major repair.
- The methods, materials and costs of corrections.
- The suitability of the property for any specialized use.
- Compliance or non-compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
- The market value of the property or its marketability.
- The advisability or inadvisability of purchase of the property.
- Any component or system, which was not observed.
- The presence or absence of pests such as wood damaging organisms, rodents, or insects.
- Cosmetic items, underground items, or items not
permanently installed
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Inspectors are NOT required to:
- Offer or perform any act or service contrary to law.
- Offer warranties or guarantees of any kind.
- Offer or perform engineering, architectural, plumbing, or any other job function requiring an occupational license in the jurisdiction where the inspection is taking place, unless the inspector holds a valid occupational license in which case he/she may inform the client that he/she is so licensed, and is therefore qualified to go beyond the ASHI Standards of Practice, and for and additional fee, perform additional inspections beyond those within the scope of the basic ASHI inspection.
- Calculate the strength, adequacy, or efficiency of any system or component.
- Enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage the property or its components or be dangerous to the inspector or other persons.
- Operate any system or component that is shut down or otherwise inoperable.
- Operate any system or component that does not respond to normal operating controls.
- Disturb insulation, move personal items, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice, or debris that obstructs access or visibility.
- Determine the presence or absence of any suspected hazardous substance including but not limited to toxins, carcinogens, noise, and contaminants in soil, water, and air.
- Determine the effectiveness of any system installed to control or remove suspected hazardous substances.
- Predict future conditions, including but not limited to failure of components.
- Project operating cost of components.
- Evaluate acoustical characteristics of any system or component
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So what is inspected?
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
The inspector will observe structural components including Foundations, Floors, Walls, Columns, Ceilings and Roofs.
The inspector will describe the type of foundation, floor structure, wall structure, columns, ceiling structure and roof structure.
The inspector will:
- Probe structural components where deterioration is suspected. However, probing is NOT required when probing would damage any finished surface.
- Enter under floor crawl spaces and attic spaces except when access is obstructed, when entry could damage the property, or when dangerous or adverse situations are suspected.
- Report the methods used to observe under floor crawl spaces and attics.
- Report signs of water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.
EXTERIOR
The inspector will observe wall cladding, flashings, trim, entryway doors, representative number
of windows, garage door operators, decks, balconies, stoops, steps, areaway, porches including
railings, eaves, soffits, fascias, vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways, patios, walkways and
retaining walls with respect to their effect on the condition of the building.
The inspector will describe wall cladding materials, operate all entryway doors and representative
number of windows including garage doors, manually or by using permanently installed controls
of any garage door operator, report whether or not any garage door operator will automatically
reverse or stop when meeting reasonable resistance during closing.
The inspector is NOT required to observe storm windows, storm doors, screening, shutters,
awnings and similar seasonal accessories, fences, safety glazing, garage door operator remote
control transmitters, geological conditions, soil conditions, recreational facilities, and outbuildings
other than garages and carports.
ROOFING
The inspector will observe roof coverings, roof drainage systems, flashings, skylights, chimneys
and roof penetrations, signs of leaks or abnormal condensation on building components.
The inspector will describe the type of roof covering materials and report the methods used to
observe the roofing.
The inspector is NOT required to walk on the roofing, observe attached accessories including but
not limited to solar systems, antennae, and lightning arrestors.
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PLUMBING
The inspector will observe interior water supply and distribution system including piping
materials, including supports, insulation, fixtures, faucets, functional flow, leaks, and cross
connections.
Interior drain, waste and vent system are observed including traps; drain, waste, and vent piping;
piping supports and pipe insulation, Leaks, and functional drainage.
Hot water systems including are observed including water heating equipment, normal operating
controls, automatic safety controls, chimneys, flues, and vents.
Fuel storage and distribution systems are observed including interior fuel storage equipment,
supply piping, venting, supports, leaks, and sump pumps. The inspector will describe water supply and distribution piping materials, drain, waste, and vent
piping materials, water heater equipment, operate all plumbing fixtures, including their faucets,
and all exterior faucets attached to the house.
The inspector is NOT required to state the effectiveness of anti-siphon devices, determine
whether water supply and waste disposal systems are public or private, operate automatic safety
controls, operate any valve except water closet flush valves, fixture faucets and hose faucets,
observe water conditioning systems, fire and lawn sprinkler systems, on-site water supply
quantity and quality, on-site waste disposal systems, foundation irrigation systems, spas,
except as to functional flow and functional drainage. |
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ELECTRICAL
The inspector will observe:
- Service entrance conductors.
- Service equipment, grounding equipment, main over current device, main and distribution
panels.
- Amperage and voltage ratings of the service.
- Branch circuit conductors, their over current devices, and the compatibility of their ampacities
and voltages.
- The operation of a representative number of installed lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles
located inside the house, garage, and on its exterior walls.
- The polarity and grounding of all receptacles within six feet of interior plumbing fixtures, and all
receptacles in the garage or carport, and on the exterior of inspected structures.
- The operation of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.
The inspector will describe:
- Service amperage and voltage.
- Service entry conductor materials.
- Service type as being overhead or underground.
- Location of main and distribution panels.
- Report any observed aluminum branch circuit wiring.
The inspector is NOT required to insert any tool, probe or testing device inside the panels, test or
operate any over current device except Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, dismantle any electrical
device or control other than to remove the covers of the main and auxiliary distribution panel or
observe low voltage systems, smoke detectors, telephone, security, cable TV, intercoms, or
other ancillary wiring that is not a part of the primary electrical distribution systems.
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HEATING
The inspector will observe permanently installed heating systems including:
- Heating equipment.
- Normal operating controls.
- Automatic safety controls.
- Chimneys, flues, and vents.
- Solid fuel heating devices.
- Heat distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts, and piping, with supports, dampers,
insulation, air filters, registers, radiators, fan-coil units, convectors.
- The presence of an installed heat source in each room.
The inspector will describe energy source, heating equipment and distribution type and will also
operate the systems using normal operating controls.
The inspector will open readily openable access panels provided by the manufacturer or installer for routine homeowner maintenance.
The inspector is NOT required to operate heating systems when weather conditions or other
circumstances may cause equipment damage, operate automatic safety controls, or ignite or
extinguish solid fuel fires.
The inspector will not observe the interior of flues, fireplace insert flue connectors, humidifiers,
electronic air filters, or the uniformity or adequacy of heat supply to the various rooms.
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CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING
The inspector will observe Central air conditioning including cooling and air handling equipment
and normal operating controls. Distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts, and piping,
with supports, dampers, insulation, air filters, registers and fan-coil units, and the presence of an
installed cooling source in each room.
The inspector will describe energy sources, cooling equipment type, operate the systems using
normal operating controls, and open readily openable access panels provided by the
manufacturer or installer for routine homeowner maintenance.
The inspector is NOT required to operate cooling systems when weather conditions or other
circumstances may cause equipment damage, observe non-central air conditioners, observe the
uniformity or adequacy of cool-air supply to the various rooms.
INTERIORS
The inspector will observe walls, ceilings, and floors, steps, stairways, balconies, and railings,
counters and a representative number of cabinets, a representative number of doors and
windows, separation walls, ceilings, and doors between a dwelling unit and an attached garage or
another dwelling unit, sumps.
The inspector will operate a representative number of primary windows and interior doors, report
signs of water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on
building components.
The inspector is NOT required to observe paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments on the
interior walls ceilings and floors, carpeting, draperies, blinds, other window treatments, household
appliances, recreational facilities or another dwelling unit.
INSULATION & VENTILATION
The inspector will observe insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces, ventilation of attics
and foundation areas, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting systems.
The inspector will describe insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces and the absence
of same in unfinished space at conditioned surfaces.
The inspector is NOT required to report on concealed insulation and vapor retarders or venting
equipment that is integral with household appliances.
Condreay & Associates inspects Chicago,
Chicagoland and all of Northeastern Illinois!
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