The Weird Things You Find on a Home Inspection in Westminster

Inspecting is not a glamorous job, and part of what makes it worth doing is that a fair share of what turns up is not wear at all. It is a previous repair - done cheaply, done confidently, and done wrong.

Ingraffia Home Inspections has been inspecting in Orange County since 2003. To book in Westminster, call (714) 371-8422 or request an inspection.

Outdoor wiring, taped

Exterior connections have to be properly enclosed. Wire nuts and electrical tape are not an acceptable way to join an exterior circuit, and a receptacle that is not rated for outdoor use is not made acceptable by being outdoors already.

Outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected and fitted with a cover that closes when nothing is plugged in. Water reaching an unprotected connection can damage the electrical system and can start a fire.

An outlet inside a shower

It happens. Beyond being dangerous in the obvious way, it is prohibited outright - there is no configuration in which it is acceptable.

The fix is to relocate the outlet outside the shower enclosure, often onto a neighbouring wall that the existing wiring can reach.

Live wiring beside a gas meter

Exposed live conductors are a hazard to everyone in the building. Exposed live conductors next to a gas meter are a considerably worse one: a small leak and an electrical arc are a combination with no safe outcome.

If you ever see live, uncovered wiring anywhere on a property, call a licensed electrician straight away rather than waiting for the inspection.

Why this is worth an inspection

None of the above is exotic, and none of it is expensive to put right compared with what it can cost to leave. What they have in common is that each was somebody's finished repair - they were not going to be found by looking at the listing photographs.

An inspection is a visual examination of the structure and systems, and improper work is one of the things it is specifically good at catching. Findings are written up with what was seen and what should happen next, including where a specialist needs to take it further.

Pricing starts at $500 for a single family residence and $350 for a condo, townhome or manufactured home. The full rate card is published.