There is possibly more to inspect in a basement than in any other part of a house. Inspecting the basement or crawl space is part of any general home inspection.

The first thing your inspector will note is whether the basement is finished, unfinished or a combination of both. The inspector will then check exterior stair wells and window wells to make sure there is a drain at the bottom of the landing to take rain water away from the house. Checking for water damage, cracked concrete walls and the condition of joists, gas lines, water lines, drain lines and appliances is all part of a basement inspection.

When inspecting a crawl space, almost everything that applies to a basement inspection also applies to a crawl space. The most significant difference is that a crawl space needs some type of ventilation. The inspector will check to make sure the crawl space has adequate ventilation.

For more information on home inspections, commercial property inspections or to locate an inspector in your area, go to www.npiweb.com.