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      <title>How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in Sammamish, Washington?</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/home-inspection-cost-sammamish-wa</link>
      <description>Learn what affects home inspection cost in Sammamish, Washington, including home size, age, and scope, plus what a professional inspection typically includes.</description>
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          Key Takeaways
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           Most home inspections in Sammamish, WA fall between $400 and $700, though the final price depends on the property itself.
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           Square footage, home age, foundation type, and add-on services are the main factors that move the price up or down.
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           A standard inspection covers the roof, exterior, structure, mechanical systems, and interior, documented in a written report.
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           The inspection fee is small compared to the cost of the repairs it can reveal, which is why buyers, sellers, and long-term owners all use them.
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           Washington requires home inspectors to be licensed, so verifying credentials matters as much as comparing prices.
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          Table of Contents
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           What Does a Home Inspection Cost in Sammamish?
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           Factors That Influence Home Inspection Pricing
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           What a Standard Home Inspection Includes
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           Add-On Services That Change the Total
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           Why the Inspection Matters for Buyers, Sellers, and Owners
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           How to Compare Inspectors Beyond Price
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           Conclusion
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           Planning a Home Purchase in Sammamish?
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           Frequently Asked Questions
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          Introduction
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          A home inspection in Sammamish, Washington typically costs between $400 and $700, with most single-family homes landing somewhere in the middle of that range. Smaller condos may come in under $400, while larger properties, older homes, or inspections with add-on services can run higher, so it helps to review
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          inspection pricing
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           before you schedule.
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          Sammamish home prices are among the highest in King County. When that much money is on the line, a few hundred dollars for a professional evaluation is one of the smaller line items in the transaction, yet it shapes some of the biggest decisions. This guide breaks down what drives the cost, what the fee actually buys, and how to weigh your options.
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          What Does a Home Inspection Cost in Sammamish?
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          The average home inspection cost in Washington sits close to the national average, roughly $350 to $500 for a typical home. Sammamish tends to run a bit above that state average for a simple reason: the homes here are bigger.
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          Many properties in neighborhoods like Klahanie, Sahalee, and the Trossachs are 2,500 to 4,000 square feet or more. Larger homes take longer to inspect, and inspectors price their work partly by the time a property requires.
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          A reasonable local expectation looks like this:
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           Condos and townhomes: $350 to $450
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           Average single-family homes: $450 to $600
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           Large or complex homes: $600 to $800+
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          These are market ranges, not quotes. Every inspector sets their own fees, and the property itself determines where you land.
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          Factors That Influence Home Inspection Pricing
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          Square Footage
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          Size is the single biggest driver. A 1,500 square foot rambler might take two to three hours to inspect. A 4,000 square foot home with multiple HVAC zones can take four hours or more. More rooms, more systems, more roofline, more time.
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          Age of the Home
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          Older homes usually cost more to inspect. Parts of Sammamish were built out in the 1970s and 1980s, and homes from that era can have aging electrical panels, original plumbing, or settling issues that call for a closer look. Newer construction is often faster to evaluate, though it is not exempt from problems.
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          Foundation and Access
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          Crawl spaces are common in the Pacific Northwest, and they take time to inspect properly. An inspector who physically enters the crawl space and attic will spend longer at the property than one who only checks from the hatch. Steep roofs, finished basements, and detached structures can also add to the scope.
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          Location and Travel
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          Inspectors serving the Eastside factor travel into their pricing. A home on the Sammamish plateau is a routine trip for local inspectors, but properties farther out may carry a small travel adjustment.
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          Scope of the Inspection
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          A standard buyer's inspection is the baseline. A
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          pre-sale inspection
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           for sellers covers similar ground before listing, and specialty services like sewer scopes or energy assessments are priced separately. The more you bundle, the higher the total, though bundled services are sometimes discounted.
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          What a Standard Home Inspection Includes
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          A full
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          home inspection
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           is a visual evaluation of the property's major systems. In Washington, licensed inspectors follow state Standards of Practice, which set a minimum for what must be examined. A typical inspection covers:
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           Exterior and roofing: siding, trim, gutters, flashing, roof covering, and penetrations
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           Drainage and grading: how water moves around the foundation, a real concern in a region with wet winters
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           Structure: foundation, framing, crawl space, and attic
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           Mechanical systems: electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and built-in appliances
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           Interior: windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, and safety items like smoke detectors
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          The deliverable is a written report, usually digital, with photos and plain-language explanations of what was found. Good reports separate serious defects from routine maintenance items so you can tell the difference.
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          It is worth understanding the limits too. A home inspection is visual and non-invasive. Inspectors do not open walls, move furniture, or dismantle equipment, and no inspection can find every possible defect. The report reflects the condition of the home on the day it was inspected.
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           ﻿
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          Add-On Services That Change the Total
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          Several optional services are common in the Sammamish market, each with its own fee:
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           Sewer scope: a camera inspection of the side sewer line, often $150 to $300. Root intrusion is a known issue with older lines in wooded areas.
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           Energy audit: an assessment of insulation, air leakage, and efficiency. If you are curious how this works, this overview of
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           energy auditing
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            explains the process.
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           Thermal imaging: infrared scanning that can reveal moisture intrusion or missing insulation not visible to the eye. Some inspectors include it; others charge extra.
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           Radon, mold, or water testing: lab-based tests billed separately from the general inspection.
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          None of these are required, but the right add-on depends on the property. A 1978 home on a wooded lot is a stronger candidate for a sewer scope than a five-year-old townhome.
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          Why the Inspection Matters for Buyers, Sellers, and Owners
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          For buyers, the report is a decision-making tool. It can support a repair negotiation, a price adjustment, or in some cases a decision to walk away. In a competitive market, some buyers also use pre-offer inspections to bid with fewer contingencies while still understanding the property.
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          For sellers, a pre-listing inspection identifies problems before a buyer's inspector does. That gives you the chance to make repairs on your own timeline or price the home with the condition already disclosed.
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          For current homeowners, periodic inspections work like a physical for the house. Catching a small roof leak or a failing water heater early is almost always cheaper than dealing with the damage later.
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          How to Compare Inspectors Beyond Price
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          Price matters, but it is a poor tiebreaker on its own. When comparing inspectors in the Sammamish area, look at:
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           Licensing: Washington requires home inspectors to hold a state license. Ask for the license number.
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           Certifications: credentials from organizations like InterNACHI, or specialty certifications in infrared and building performance, indicate ongoing training.
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           Sample reports: ask to see one. The report is what you are actually paying for, and quality varies widely.
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           Scope and access: confirm whether the inspector enters the crawl space and attic rather than viewing from the opening.
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           Availability and turnaround: in a fast market, report delivery within 24 to 48 hours can matter.
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          An unusually low price sometimes reflects a shorter inspection or a thinner report. It does not always, but it is worth asking what the fee includes.
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          Conclusion
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          Home inspection costs in Sammamish, Washington generally run $400 to $700, shaped mostly by the home's size, age, access, and the services you add on. The fee buys a documented evaluation of the roof, structure, mechanical systems, and interior, along with a report you can use to negotiate, plan repairs, or simply understand what you own.
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          The inspection is a small percentage of any Sammamish real estate transaction, and it is one of the few costs that exists purely to inform you. Whether you are buying, selling, or maintaining a home, knowing what the price covers and what it does not puts you in a better position to choose an inspector on substance rather than sticker price alone.
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          Planning a Home Purchase in Sammamish?
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          If you have questions about inspection pricing, scope, or which services fit your property, feel free to
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          contact us
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           or call (253) 377-7400. There is no obligation, just straightforward answers to help you decide what your home needs.
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          Frequently Asked Questions
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      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:43:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.groundupinspect.com/home-inspection-cost-sammamish-wa</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>What Does a Home Energy Audit Check for in Seattle, Washington?</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/what-does-a-home-energy-audit-check-for-seattle-wa</link>
      <description>See what a home energy audit checks in Seattle, WA, from insulation and air leaks to HVAC performance, and how the findings relate to comfort and utility costs.</description>
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          Key Takeaways
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           A home energy audit checks insulation levels, air leakage, HVAC performance, windows, doors, ductwork, and water heating to find where a home loses energy.
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           Auditors use diagnostic tools like blower door tests and thermal imaging cameras to measure problems that are invisible during a normal walkthrough.
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           Seattle's older housing stock and long heating season make air sealing and insulation the most common findings in local audits.
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           The audit produces a report that ranks improvements, so homeowners can decide which upgrades make sense for their budget and their house.
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           An energy audit identifies opportunities; actual savings depend on the home, the upgrades chosen, and how the household uses energy.
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          Table of Contents
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           What a Home Energy Audit Checks
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           The Home Energy Audit Checklist, Area by Area
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           The Diagnostic Tools Auditors Use
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           Why Energy Audits Matter in Seattle Homes
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           What the Audit Report Tells You
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           What an Energy Audit Does Not Do
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           Conclusion
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           Curious Where Your Home Is Losing Energy?
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           Frequently Asked Questions
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          Introduction
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           A home energy audit checks how your house gains, holds, and loses energy. In practical terms, that means evaluating insulation, air leaks, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, windows, doors, and water heating, then measuring how they perform as a system rather than as separate parts. If you want a deeper look at the process itself, this overview of
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          energy auditing
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           explains how an assessment works from start to finish.
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          For Seattle homeowners, the topic is more relevant than the mild climate might suggest. Much of the city's housing was built before modern insulation standards, and heating runs for most of the year. Knowing where the energy actually goes is the first step toward spending less to stay comfortable.
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          What a Home Energy Audit Checks
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          An energy audit, sometimes called a home energy efficiency inspection, treats the house as one connected system. Heat moves from warm spaces to cold ones, air moves through every gap it can find, and equipment works harder when the envelope leaks.
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          The auditor's job is to trace those paths. A typical audit examines the building envelope (walls, attic, floors, windows, and doors), the mechanical systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, and water heating), and the air pathways that connect them. Each area gets checked individually, then the results are read together.
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          The Home Energy Audit Checklist, Area by Area
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          Insulation Levels
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          The auditor inspects the attic, wall cavities where accessible, and the floor above the crawl space or basement. Insulation is measured against current recommendations for the Pacific Northwest climate zone. Many Seattle homes built before 1980 have little or no wall insulation, and attic insulation that has compressed or shifted over the decades.
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          Air Leakage
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          Air sealing is often the largest finding in an audit. Common leak points include recessed lights, attic hatches, plumbing and wiring penetrations, rim joists, fireplace dampers, and the gaps around windows and doors. Individually these leaks look small. Added together, they can equal leaving a window open all winter.
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          Heating and Cooling Equipment
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          The auditor evaluates the age, condition, and efficiency of the furnace, heat pump, or other heating equipment, along with any cooling system. Filters, combustion safety, and thermostat settings are part of the check. In Seattle, where heating dominates energy use, this is a major piece of the picture.
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          Ductwork
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          If the home has forced-air heat, the ducts get their own inspection. Leaky or uninsulated ducts running through a crawl space can lose a meaningful share of heated air before it ever reaches a room. Disconnected ducts are found more often than most homeowners expect.
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          Windows and Doors
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          The audit notes whether windows are single or double pane, checks weatherstripping, and looks for failed seals or drafts. Windows rarely top the priority list on cost grounds, but they affect comfort, and the audit documents their condition honestly rather than assuming replacement is the answer.
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          Water Heating
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          Water heaters are checked for age, efficiency, tank insulation, and temperature setting. Hot water is usually the second largest energy use in a home after space heating, so small issues here add up over a year.
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          Ventilation and Moisture
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          In a damp climate, tightening a house without managing moisture creates new problems. The auditor checks bath and kitchen fans, crawl space conditions, and signs of condensation or mold. Good audits balance efficiency with healthy indoor air, not one at the expense of the other.
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          The Diagnostic Tools Auditors Use
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          Two tools separate a professional audit from an eyeball assessment.
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           A
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          blower door test
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           uses a calibrated fan mounted in an exterior door to depressurize the house. The gauge measures exactly how leaky the home is, and while the fan runs, the auditor can walk the house and feel where outside air is pulling in.
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          Thermal imaging
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           uses an infrared camera to show temperature differences on walls and ceilings. Missing insulation, hidden air leaks, and damp spots show up as color patterns that the naked eye cannot see. Certified thermographers are trained to read these images correctly, since a cold spot can have more than one cause.
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          Some audits also include combustion safety testing on gas appliances and duct leakage testing. Auditors certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) follow standardized procedures for these diagnostics.
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          Why Energy Audits Matter in Seattle Homes
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          Seattle's housing stock skews old. Craftsman bungalows, wartime cottages, and mid-century ramblers were built when energy was cheap and codes said little about insulation. Balloon framing and uninsulated walls are still common in pre-war neighborhoods.
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          The climate matters too. Seattle rarely gets extreme cold, but the heating season stretches roughly from October through May. A modest hourly heat loss, multiplied over eight months, becomes a large annual number.
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           Moisture is the third local factor. Crawl spaces stay damp much of the year, and audits in this region regularly find ventilation and moisture issues alongside the energy ones. An audit is also a natural companion to a general
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          home inspection
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           for buyers who want the full picture of a property before or shortly after purchase.
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          What the Audit Report Tells You
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          The audit ends with a written report. A useful report does three things: it documents current conditions with photos and test results, it explains each finding in plain language, and it ranks recommended improvements.
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          Ranking matters because upgrades vary widely in cost and payoff. Air sealing and attic insulation are usually inexpensive relative to their effect. Equipment replacement and window upgrades cost more and are typically recommended only when the existing components are near the end of their life.
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           The report also gives you a baseline. If you make improvements, a follow-up test can show what changed. And if you are budgeting over several years, the priority list becomes a roadmap instead of a guess. Professional
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          energy audit services
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           in the Seattle area generally follow this assess-report-prioritize format.
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          What an Energy Audit Does Not Do
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          An audit is a diagnostic, not a repair. The auditor identifies problems and recommends fixes, but the work itself is done separately, often by insulation or HVAC contractors.
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          It is also not a promise of specific savings. How much a household actually saves depends on the upgrades it chooses, how the home is used, energy prices, and the weather in a given year. A trustworthy audit frames its numbers as estimates.
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          Finally, an energy audit is not a substitute for a full home inspection. It focuses on energy performance, comfort, and related moisture and safety items, not on the roof covering, structure, or plumbing as a whole. The two services answer different questions and work well together.
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          Conclusion
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          A home energy audit in Seattle checks the parts of a house that control how energy is used and lost: insulation, air leakage, heating and cooling equipment, ducts, windows, doors, water heating, and ventilation. Diagnostic tools like blower door testing and thermal imaging turn hunches into measurements, and the final report ranks improvements so homeowners can act on facts rather than assumptions.
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          Given Seattle's older homes, long heating season, and damp crawl spaces, the findings are often significant and often fixable at reasonable cost. Whether you follow through on every recommendation or just the top two or three, the value of the audit is the same: you know what your house is actually doing, and you can make decisions accordingly.
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          Curious Where Your Home Is Losing Energy?
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           If you have questions about what an energy audit involves or whether one makes sense for your house, feel free to
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          contact us
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           or call (253) 377-7400. No pressure and no obligation, just clear answers so you can decide what fits your home and your budget.
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          Frequently Asked Questions
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      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:18:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.groundupinspect.com/what-does-a-home-energy-audit-check-for-seattle-wa</guid>
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      <title>November 19, 2020</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/attic-and-crawl</link>
      <description>Today I did an inspection on a home that looked great and all appearances suggested it was in above average condition. However, When I entered the attic I found rodent infestation and a leak around the skylight.</description>
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  &lt;img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/251928eb/dms3rep/multi/groundupinspect_blog-01.jpg" alt="Construction worker inspecting attic insulation. Holding blueprints, wearing a hard hat, pointing upwards."/&gt;&#xD;
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          Today I did an inspection on a home that looked great and all appearances suggested it was in above average condition. However, When I entered the attic I found rodent infestation and a leak around the skylight. In the crawl space I found a non-functional sump pump, standing water and mildew/mold growth on building components as a result.
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          As a reminder, this is a good time of year to peek your head into the attic and crawl just to have a check especially after heavy rains. Just opening the hatch can sometimes alert you to a problem such as musty ammonia (from rodents) smells or the sound of dripping indicating a leak. I recommend checking you crawl space and attic at least twice a year even if its only sticking your head in.
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          You may also benefit from an annual or semi annual check up of your home with a qualified home inspector such as myself for the best information as to what may need maintaining around the home.
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      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2020 07:06:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.groundupinspect.com/attic-and-crawl</guid>
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      <title>Pre-Purchase Inspection Misconception</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/pre-purchase-inspection-misconception</link>
      <description>As a home inspector in the greater Seattle area, I believe there is a misconception about the term Pre-inspection by some people, especially first-time buyers.</description>
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  &lt;img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/251928eb/dms3rep/multi/pexels-photo-1546168.jpeg" alt="Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, green lawns, and trees along a sunny road."/&gt;&#xD;
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          As a home inspector in the greater Seattle area, I believe there is a misconception about the term Pre-inspection by some people, especially first-time buyers. Pre-Purchase inspection is a home inspection done prior to buying a home. In the Greater Seattle area over the last few years there has been a low inventory and an influx of buyers leading to bidding wars on homes. This has driven the price of homes up and lead to a situation where desirable homes in desirable areas don’t hit the market and wait for someone interested in the home to show up. Houses are now put on the market and offers are not accepted until a few days later in the hopes of multiple offers. In order to have your offer accepted its not just about how much money, its also the fewest contingencies in order to win the bidding war against sometimes 10 or more other interested parties. 
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          All that said, I will reiterate, a Pre-Inspection is an inspection done prior to the purchase of a home. However, in the Seattle and surrounding areas this can be difficult to do when given the short window of opportunity. Not to mention you may have to do multiple inspections before you win a bid for a home. Our crazy market has given rise to an alternative understanding of the term Pre-Inspection. This term has recently been used to identify an inspection that is done prior to submitting an offer on a home in order to do away with the inspection contingency. 
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          There is an alternative to spending money on a full inspection and another reason the term “Pre-Inspection” is used to describe the inspection before the offer. Some inspectors have decided that instead of losing business they offer a discounted “Walk Through” where a report is not provided. For the home buyer this is a great option in this fast-passed market, and you can get the information you need to make smart buying decisions. These are usually cash only because as a home inspector it is against the Code of Ethics in the state of Washington to provide an inspection without a report and many inspectors won’t take the risk of potentially losing their license to perform this service.
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          As a Home inspector I cannot condone this type of inspection however as a business owner and family man I can understand not wanting to lose the business because others may suffer due to the lack of work. It will always be my recommendation that you get a “full” home inspection no matter the situation. If you decide to do a cash “walk through” you should know that there is no documentation to prove an inspection was performed and no grievances can be filed.
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          Many home buyers are skipping the inspection because they don’t want to spend money on an inspection for a home that they may not even get or have already spent money on homes they did not win and don’t want to spend more money. I strongly advise against this and not because I am a home inspector but because I have done several inspections for people who have skipped the “pre-inspection” and brought me in after the home was purchased and in most cases nothing major was found but there has been a few where the issues found cost the home owners thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars to remedy.
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          At 
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           ﻿
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            From The Ground Up Home Inspections
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           ﻿
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          I can provide a thorough inspection that only takes a couple hours, I have competitive pricing, and on-site reporting to you can make decisions quickly.
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      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:06:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.groundupinspect.com/pre-purchase-inspection-misconception</guid>
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      <title>Snow and your house</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/snow-and-your-house</link>
      <description>It’s the snow season in the greater Seattle area and there are some things you should know. In my last blog there are some great ways to prepare for the winter and cold weather. Now that it’s here, there are some things you should keep an eye on.</description>
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  &lt;img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/251928eb/dms3rep/multi/groundupinspect_snow-home.jpg" alt="Snow-covered house with stone facade, dark roof, and wooden accents, set against snowy trees and a blue sky."/&gt;&#xD;
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          It’s the snow season in the greater Seattle area and there are some things you should know. In my last blog there are some great ways to prepare for the winter and cold weather. Now that it’s here, there are some things you should keep an eye on.
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          With the freezing conditions that come along with snow you should keep an eye out for “ice damming” at the soffits. Ice damming is the freezing of the snow that melts over the attic “warmed by the house” that freezes at the soffits or overhangs causing water to build up behind the ice dam. This can lead to water infiltration in walls and attic leading to mold and mildew. If you observe ice damming, there are options for keeping the soffits warm by putting a heated coil on the soffit on the roof where ice damming is occurring. You should also contact a certified thermographer to inspect the home to determine if water infiltration has occurred.
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          If you have a wood burning fireplace in your home this is the best time of year to use it. It is not always easy to accumulate wood during the year and it can be expensive to buy but it is a great way to save energy if you can procure wood at a low cost. Not only can it be a great way to keep worm but if you have electric heat such as baseboards or cadets this will conserve on heating bill in the colder times of the winter. If you are heating with a heat pump or ductless heating with electric back up heat your heat pump will lose the ability to convert heat from the outdoors due to the cold temperature. Your heating system will switch to backup heat and if it is inefficient it can drive you energy bills up. By using a wood fired or gas fireplace you can stay warm and conserve energy.
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          This is also a good time to check your attic and crawl space. With ice damming possible and wet of freezing conditions water infiltration in both these areas increases. If you don’t have full access, I always suggest at least opening the attic and crawl space hatches and stick your head in. Many times you can smell, hear or feel if there may be a problem and you can call a professional that can investigate for you.
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          Keep these things in mind as well as the items in my “preparing for winter” blog post. When the snow starts falling, you will have less worry and more fun in the snow!
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      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2020 07:06:09 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Preparing your house for winter</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/preparing-your-house-for-winter</link>
      <description>For the most part WATER is your big enemy during the cold winter.  Pipes can freeze and burst causing massive damage not just immediately but smaller leaks can go unnoticed and cause damage and unhealthy conditions over time.</description>
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  &lt;img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/251928eb/dms3rep/multi/groundupinspect_home-winter.jpg" alt="Roofer inspecting a dark gray shingled roof, wearing a hard hat, safety vest, and gloves. Holding a clipboard, outdoors."/&gt;&#xD;
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          For the most part WATER is your big enemy during the cold winter. Pipes can freeze and burst causing massive damage not just immediately but smaller leaks can go unnoticed and cause damage and unhealthy conditions over time. Also, frozen water in the gutters and overhangs can cause damage to fascia boards, soffits and rafter tails. High energy bills can also be a concern in winter especially in older buildings.
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          Some easy ways to protect your home from the damaging and uncomfortable winter months are as follows:
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           ﻿
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          Make sure you unhook hoses from the hose bib. Even if the spigot is an ani-freeze it can still burst if the water in the hose freezes. Turn off the spigot when not in use and cover with something that will insulate from the cold.
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          Blowing off the roof and cleaning out the gutters will help protect against water backing up due to clogged downspouts and ice damming at the soffits and overhangs. The soffits and overhangs are not insulated by the attic and can remain frozen as the heat from the attic melts the rest of the roof. This as well as debris that remain frozen can back up the melted water and cause it to enter behind the roofing material.
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          Check weather stripping on exterior doors. This includes the garage man door because most garages are considered to be an unconditioned space and do not have a heat source.
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          Keep blinds closed during the night and on very cold days to add an extra barrier to protect against the radiant cold of the windows and frames. Even though most windows are double pain and vinyl they are still considered to be a penetration in the overall thermal boundary. The stagnant air between the window and the blinds can raise the insulative quality of the window by up to R-5 adding to the efficiency of the window and your home overall as well as helping keep away condensation down around the windows.
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          Close the dampers in wood burning stoves when not in use. Although there is an equilibrium in the flew or stack that will usually keep cold from entering and heat from exiting in normal conditions this can change if the pressure differences between the inside and outside change due to wind and high pressure systems and even disconnected ductwork within the homes unconditioned spaces. Wood and gas inserts can also be drafty but more difficult to seal because the drafts don’t come from the insert itself but from around the insert compartment. Consult your handyman or contractor for the best ways to seal inserts.
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          These are some simple ways to help keep your home safe from damage and help keep you cozy during the cold winter months in Western Washington.
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      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:05:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.groundupinspect.com/preparing-your-house-for-winter</guid>
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      <title>What To Expect When Getting a Home Inspection With From The Ground Up Home Inspection</title>
      <link>https://www.groundupinspect.com/what-to-expect-when-getting-a-home-inspection-with-from-the-ground-up-home-inspection</link>
      <description>After the initial meeting you will be asked to sign an inspection agreement which is required prior to the start of the inspection.</description>
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          My home inspections usually start with a short introduction followed by some questions such as:
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           Do you have any concerns about the home.
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           Are there any questions you would like to ask me.
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           Is there anything specific about a system you want me to give you information about.
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           After the initial meeting you will be asked to sign an
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          inspection agreement
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           which is required prior to the start of the inspection. At this point I will start my inspection of the home. I typically Start on the exterior of the house and my process is as follows:
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           Roof:
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            If the roof is accessible and safe to walk on I will walk to roof looking for damage, signs of age, proper instillation, excess debris and moss, condition of gutters and downspouts. Skylights and roof penetrations and chimney condition.
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           Exterior:
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           I will walk around the home identifying any issues with the siding, doors, windows, soffits, decks, porches, patios, grading and drainage, and retaining walls that may have an effect on the structure.
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           Garage:
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           The garage will be inspected for condition of fire barriers on walls and ceilings, slab or garage floor, garage car and man doors, safe operation of garage door openers.
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           Electrical System:
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            I will start by checking the panel for defects and open the panel to inspect for proper wiring, check plugs and switches for proper wiring or damage, test GFCI for proper operation and inspect lighting fixtures.
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           Plumbing System:
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            The plumbing system will be thoroughly checked for leaks and popper operation at fixtures, leaks and proper insulation at drain and supply lines in the crawl space, inspection of gas plumbing for leaks and inspection of water heating system to identify deficiencies and age.
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           HVAC System:
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           I will start at the thermostat to inspect for proper operation, determine components being operated by the thermostat and start the system for inspection. The Furnace, hydronic system and space heaters will be inspected for proper operation, safety issues and determine age. 
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           Fireplaces:
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           I will determine the type of fireplace and check for proper operation, venting and installation.
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           Interiors:
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            The interiors will be inspected for major damage to floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, operation and condition of doors and windows and inspection of stairs and railings for safety. I will observe signs that may be linked to structural issues and stains that may indicate plumbing or roof leaks.
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           Appliances:
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            The appliances will be checked for proper operation and condition.
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           Attic Space:
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            I will inspect all accessible areas in the attic for signs of leaking, proper ventilation, fungi growth, damage to structural components, safety issues and inspect for proper insulation.
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           Crawl Space:
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            Upon inspection of safe conditions and accessibility the crawl space will be thoroughly inspected for signs of water intrusion, structural issues at foundation and footings, structural issues at under structure and supports, inspect for rodents and wood destroying insects, determine proper insulation and vapor barrier.
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          Thermography: After a thorough visual inspection and mechanical inspection a thermal imager will be used to aid in identifying moisture intrusion from exterior or plumbing and check the thermal boundary for missing or lack of insulation in walls and inaccessible ceiling areas.
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          Throughout the inspection process I encourage you to ask questions. I will usually stop periodically to keep you informed on my findings. At the completion of the inspection I like to take time to go over any major issues and make sure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions in your home buying/selling process.  I will also go over the report and how you will receive/view it and gather any other information I may need. 
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           My
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          reporting
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          is done in part on a device that allows me to make comments and take pictures that I can upload to my main computer. This allows me to get reports out rather quickly. You will usually receive your report within 30min after the physical inspection. I will also make sure you have all my information in the event you have questions about your report once you receive it. I am always happy to answer questions my customers may have!
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      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:05:10 GMT</pubDate>
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