Home Tips & Inspection Insights.

When walking through a home, always look up. Water stains on ceilings and walls are one of the most revealing clues about past or active moisture problems — often indicating roof leaks or plumbing issues above.

Bring a phone charger or small plug-in device to test outlets when walking through a home. Non-functional outlets can signal wiring issues, reversed polarity or missing GFCI protection — all common inspection findings.

If possible, have the AC and heat running before Doug arrives. A cold unit is much harder to evaluate properly. Running the system for 15–20 minutes before the inspection helps identify issues with airflow, refrigerant and heating capacity.

The best time to check for foundation drainage issues is within 24–48 hours after rainfall. Standing water near the foundation, or soil that slopes toward the home, indicates grading problems that can cause long-term structural damage.

Termites build pencil-sized mud tubes along foundation walls, especially in garages and crawlspaces. These tubes are one of the most reliable indicators of active termite activity. Always check these areas during a walkthrough.

The single best thing you can do as a homebuyer is attend your inspection in person. Being there lets Doug walk you through every finding in real time — you leave knowing exactly what you're buying and what needs attention.