Before you put your home up for sale, a proper electrical inspection should be part of your home inspection.  The electrical inspection must follow procedures stipulated in the National Electrical Code (NEC).

During the inspection, Scottsdale Desert Inspection checks the safety of electrical devices on or around your property.  This checklist includes:

• Circuits: do you have the correct number of circuits to serve the demand of the property—this is especially important if you have added to its existing foundation.
• Wires: wires may be old, damaged, or installed incorrectly, which can create a dangerous situation.
• Outlets: outlets with poor connections may overheat during a circuit overload.
• Service Panels: Old or faulty breakers may cause appliances to stop working, lights to flicker, or the service panel to blow.
• Electric Meter: Meters can begin to wear and tear over the years, it is important to ensure they’re functioning properly and they don’t show signs of rust or water damage compromising its quality.

Included in the inspection, is a detailed report of your property's electrical safety.

Here are the top four common kitchen problems we find during a home inspection:

Plumbing Problems

Plumbing defects might be as simple as a dripping kitchen faucet or unimaginable as a widespread leak that rots the subfloor. Caught early, most plumbing issues only need simple repairs. Left unchecked, they could require major repair, replacement or even partial demo and reconstruction of the room. SDI will check for:

• Outdated water supply pipe materials (old, galvanized pipes corrode from the inside out)
• Proper size supply and drain lines
• Plumbing vent defects
• Water heater defects
• Slow or clogged drains
• Leaky fixtures and sinks
• Leaky water supply pipes

Appliances Poorly Installed or Maintained

Appliance repairs aren’t cheap and replacement can cost thousands of dollars. SDI home inspector checks the operation of major, built-in appliances such as the range, refrigerator, dishwasher and garbage disposal. The most common appliance defects include:

• Countertop range top inserts with defective built-in ventilation
• Dirty, dust-covered refrigerator coils
• Leaky or broken ice maker
• Range burners that don’t heat up
• Ovens that don’t warm
• Refrigerators and freezers that aren’t cool/cold enough
• Missing floor- or wall-mount appliance stabilizer brackets

Vents That Don't Go Anywhere

In many kitchens, the range vent is a decorative-only feature. The kitchen range vent should extract the steam and capture some of the airborne cooking grease. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean it works. We check the range vent to learn if the fan switches on. We inspect for evidence that it vents outside the house.

Electrical Problems

Poor electrical wiring and receptacles aren’t just defects, they’re dangerous. Kitchens, as well as bathrooms, need heavier gauge wire than living areas and GFCI protection throughout the room. SDI Home Inspection often finds wiring dangerously close to plumbing, especially under the kitchen sink. That’s where garbage disposal and dishwasher wiring might run.






Your SDI home inspector protects you.

Our roof inspection specialist is ready to help.

Why Us?

• Professional Service
• Roof Inspections
• Inspection Reports & Recommendations
• Metal & Wood Roof Inspections
• Slate & Tile Roof Inspections
• Asphalt Shingle Roof Inspections
• All Roof Types
• High Customer Satisfaction
• Residential & Commercial Service

Be safe during your Phoenix area roof inspection.  Staying off the Roof Keeps Home Inspectors Safe and Out of Trouble

Walking the roof can involve insurance and legal issues if the inspector has employees or permits the customer or realtor to climb onto the roof. Anyone could get hurt. OSHA (the federal job safety agency) rules clearly state that the home inspector is not to work at more than 6 feet off grade without a proper harness installed by a trained technician. Insurance companies support the criteria of OSHA, so in the event of an accident to a customer or realtor, it would be very unlikely that an insurer would pay a claim.

If you’re a home buyer or real estate agent and you’d like to conduct your own cursory home inspection. When SDI inspects the home exterior, we work from a list of critical items

Siding And Trim

Siding and trim are the number one area pointed out by home inspectors. The easiest issue to detect are areas of the siding where paint is failing. Areas of siding with missing, flaking, cracking, or blistering paint expose the home to water damage and rot.  Areas most prone to rot are areas that receive unfettered exposure to the elements, or areas that direct bulk water to certain locations. Areas covered by patio covers and large overhangs will most likely be in pretty good shape.

Window and door trim need to be flashed correctly. Most buyers purchasing older or vintage homes accept they are purchasing homes built to lesser waterproofing and energy efficient standards. However, homes built in the mid 80’s through current construction will be expected to have properly flashed head trim. This will also apply to mounting blocks and other penetrations.

Gutters And Downspouts

The most common defect that a home inspector will catch is missing kickout flashing. Kickout flashing is a special piece of roof flashing that is bent to direct bulk water into the gutter trough and away from the building.

Gutters and downspouts are critical in effectively routing water away from your home. Make sure your gutters are clean and functioning and your downspouts aren’t clogged.  Downspouts that point load water close to your foundation without a proper place to go will be a red flag to the inspector.

Roofs, Skylights, And Chimneys

 The easiest issue to spot on a roof is moss growth. Visible moss is a sign that there may be water issues on the roof, and they signal that regular maintenance has been lacking. Usually home inspectors will not physically go on to your roof. It is probable that they will climb up on a ladder and visibly inspect your roof. Inspectors will note skylights while inspecting the roof and cross check that with any signs of water staining or damage to the interior finishes of the well, the finished tunnel that allows light into the interior.

Scottsdale Desert Inspections provides full service in Phoenix Arizona

We analyze everything from framing to HVAC, Plumbing to grading, and so much more. To help you understand the basics of what is included on your home inspection, here are a few of the items that are included:

• EXTERIOR: Grading, Drainage, Fencing, Garages, Driveways, Vegetation Impact, Decks, Patios, Foundations, Doors, Windows, Lights
• ROOFING: Surface Materials, Flashing, Over-Hangs, Drainage
• ATTIC: Access,, Ventilation, Framing, Insulation, Electrical, Plumbing, Ducting
• INTERIOR: Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Stairs, Doors, Closets, Fireplaces
• ELECTRICAL: Service Capacity, Circuitry, Outlets & Switches
• PLUMBING: Visible Piping, Fixtures, Drains, Pressure, Water Heater
• HEAT & AC: Type, Operation Distribution, Controls, Filters
• KITCHEN: Sink, Cabinets, Counters, Built In Appliances
• BATHROOMS: Fixtures, Plumbing Ventilation, Tiled Surfaces
• TERMITE INSPECTIONS and POOL INSPECTIONS Upon Requests

More people than ever are choosing to live, work, learn and play in Downtown Phoenix. With year-round culture, shopping, nightlife and dining right at your doorstep, there’s never been a better time to live downtown.  Phoenix has successfully hosted Major Events, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and College Football Playoff. We invite you to explore upcoming and past events to see how Phoenix is a fantastic choice to be your Major Event's host city. Phoenix will host Super Bowl LVII in 2023 and NCAA Final Four in 2024.