Welcome Home. For many people, the interior of the home is the most important part of the structure, and rightfully so.

When you think of a warm, cozy, comfortable abode, the place where one feels safe and protected, it is the interior of the home that is being thought of.

While many people with think of the soft couch, the warm fire place or the delicious smelling aroma from the kitchen as the “ Home”, from an inspection point of view, it is more logistical than a “feeling” of home; it’s the actual components that make up the interior that allow for the emotional coziness to kick in in the first place.

The Interior Components

Some of the key areas that make up the home’s interior include:

• The walls

• The ceilings

• The floors.

• The stairways and railings

Inspecting the aforementioned components of the home are of key importance, as though homeowners rarely give them a second thought, if these items are not safe and secure, the entire home can fall apart. Literally.

A certified inspector will ascertain if the supporting walls are holding their load, looking for cracks or settling and if possible, what’s behind them pos any safety concerns. The ceilings will be inspected for water and other damage, the floors will be inspected for soundness or other issues that may be lurking under them. Stairways and railings are also areas that must be checked to ensure they are not shaky or otherwise in state of disrepair, built to proper safety standards so that they can be deemed safe and useable as intended.

Beyond The Walls

Once the structure itself is inspected, there are other areas in the home’s interior that must be looked at. Some of these items include:

• Countertops

• and installed cabinets

• .Doors

• Windows.

• Dividing Walls and Doors

• Appliances

• Fireplaces

Countertops and cabinets are prone to excessive wear and tear, and often the issues with them re not plainly evident from the outside. A certified inspector will determine if what lies beneath them and inside them can potentially be a headache in the making for the new homeowner.

Doors serve many purposes, be it for privacy, draft protection, boundaries or other functions. An average house has more than 20 doors, and each of them needs to be inspected for functionality, safety and security. The same applies to windows, as windows on low floors can potentially be an issue of security, and windows on higher floors can potentially be an issue of safety. Just because they look Okay from afar doesn’t mean they are. A thorough inspection of each window is a must.

Fireplaces, wether gas or wood burning, are beautiful to look at and potentially can provide warmth in the winter. Fire needs air to breath and a chimney to exhaust its smoke. Wood burning and gas fireplaces have their own set of requirements that need to be checked out.

Finally, the dividing walls and doors between the interior of the home and other areas, such as garage or deck, must be looked at extra carefully, to ensure they are safe, secure and economically installed. Dividing walls can be a fire barrier and any holes going through them can be a potential problem.

The Extras

Many inspectors will not look at certain areas in the home’s interior that they deem aesthetic or not important enough to waste time with. Homeowners, who want their inspector to go the extra mile, should make sure to verbally request at these items are looked at properly and added to the final report. Some of these areas include:

• The paint

• wallpaper

• Carpeting.

• Window treatment

• Central vacuum systems

• Household appliances

• Recreational facilities

Each of these items, though there for decoration or comfort, can make a big difference in the overall value of the home’s interior. A review of their age, condition, functionality and appearance will help the homeowner get a clearer idea of the big picture and allow for a more educated and informed decision as to the value of the home and if it makes sense to go ahead with the purchase.

The Next Article will focus on: Home components (Electric, Plumbing, HVAC)

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Yaakov Fisgus is the owner and lead inspector at Inspect It Right.

Your home is an important part of life, so be sure to trust your home inspection to a true professional. In addition to his time as a home inspector, Yaakov also has15 years of experience as a construction foreman and supervisor. He has built and worked on homes with his own two hands – giving him in-depth knowledge of what a home should look like, from the inside out. With dedication and a strong work ethic that are invaluable during a home buying process, Yaakov guides his clients in making the most educated decision they can.