A Home Inspection With Context Born From Experience

Many inspectors can identify defects. Fewer have spent years fixing the kinds of problems they are reporting on.

Before becoming a licensed inspector, I spent about two decades in the trades: framing, finish carpentry, remodeling, site work, repairs, renovations, and general contracting. I have opened up walls, repaired rot, corrected bad work, dealt with drainage problems, rebuilt decks, worked around old foundations, and seen what happens when small issues are ignored for too long.

After running my own design/build firm for over twenty years, I decided to leverage my accumulated knowledge by applying it to home inspections.

When I see a problem, I am not just asking, “Is this wrong?” I am also asking:

• Is this common for the age and type of house?
• Is it mainly cosmetic, maintenance-related, or potentially serious?
• Does it suggest a larger hidden issue?
• Is this likely to be a simple repair or a bigger project?
• Is this something a buyer should understand before moving forward?

That kind of context does not come from a checklist alone. It comes from time spent on job sites.

What a Home Inspection Includes

A standard home inspection is a visual, non-invasive inspection of the readily accessible systems and components of the home.

Depending on the property, the inspection may include:

• Roof covering, flashing, drainage, and visible roof conditions
• Exterior siding, trim, windows, doors, decks, porches, stairs, and grading
• Foundation, basement, crawlspace, framing, and visible structural components
• Electrical service, panels, visible wiring, outlets, GFCI/AFCI protection, and common safety concerns
• Plumbing supply, drainage, fixtures, water heater, and visible piping
• Heating and cooling equipment
• Attic ventilation, insulation, roof framing, and signs of moisture or movement
• Interior walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, windows, doors, and representative fixtures
• Built-in appliances, where included in the inspection scope
• Safety concerns, maintenance issues, and visible defects

Every house is different. A 1920s New Englander, a rural farmhouse, a 1970s ranch, a lake house, a condo, and a multi-family property all deserve different attention. The inspection should fit the actual building, not just a generic template.

What You Get After the Inspection

After the inspection, you receive a clear digital report with photos, notes, and explanations of the issues found during the inspection.

The goal of the report is not to bury you in technical language. The goal is to help you understand the property.

A good report should help answer:

• What is wrong?
• Why does it matter?
• How serious is it?
• What should be handled soon?
• What is typical maintenance?
• What may require a contractor, specialist, or further evaluation?
• What should be discussed before the transaction moves forward?

Some inspection findings are major. Some are routine. Some sound scary until they are explained. Some look minor but deserve attention. I try to separate those things clearly.

Context Matters

A home inspection is not just a document. It is part of a decision.

Some clients want a detailed walkthrough because they are new to houses. Some are experienced buyers who just want straight information. Some are investors trying to understand whether a property makes sense. Some are buying an older home and need help separating normal age from actual concern.

My approach is practical. I want you to understand the house well enough to make your next move with your eyes open.

That does not mean every defect is a crisis. It also does not mean every old-house problem gets brushed off as “normal for the age.” There is a difference between character, deferred maintenance, bad work, and actual risk.

That difference matters.

Older Homes, Rural Properties, and New England Oddities

New Hampshire and Vermont homes are not always simple.

Around here, it is common to inspect houses with fieldstone foundations, old additions, mixed-era wiring, aging boilers, seasonal water issues, buried drainage problems, wood heat, private wells, septic systems, steep sites, crawlspaces, barns, workshops, and decades of homeowner repairs.

A lot of these homes have been changed over time. Some changes were done well. Some were done just well enough to survive the last sale. Some were done by someone who owned a circular saw, a dream, and absolutely no plan.

That is where experience helps.

An inspection should not treat every older home like a disaster. It should also not ignore the very real issues that older and rural properties can hide. The goal is to understand what you are buying, what may need attention, and whether the property fits your expectations, budget, and tolerance for future work.

For Realtors

A good inspection should help the transaction move forward with better information, not unnecessary drama.

I am direct with clients, but I try to be fair and proportionate. I do not minimize problems to keep everyone comfortable, and I do not inflate minor defects into theatrical disasters. Buyers deserve the truth. Realtors deserve an inspector who can explain findings clearly without turning every old-house quirk into a five-alarm fire.

When a repair issue is outside the scope of the inspection, I will say that. When further evaluation is appropriate, I will recommend it. When something is common but still worth understanding, I will explain that too.

Common Issues I Look For

Every property is different, but many homes in New Hampshire and Vermont have familiar patterns.

Common inspection concerns include:

• Roof wear, flashing defects, and poor drainage
• Rot at trim, decks, porches, and exterior penetrations
• Improper deck construction or unsafe stairs and railings
• Basement moisture, grading problems, and drainage issues
• Foundation movement, cracking, or old repair work
• Amateur electrical work, outdated panels, missing GFCI protection, and improper wiring conditions
• Plumbing leaks, old supply piping, drainage defects, and water heater concerns
• Heating system age, maintenance issues, and venting concerns
• Attic moisture, poor ventilation, and insulation problems
• Signs of pest damage, rot, or hidden water entry
• Unsafe or incomplete renovations
• Deferred maintenance that has started to become real damage

The value of the inspection is not just finding defects. It is understanding which ones matter most.

What a Home Inspection Is Not

A home inspection is important, but it is not magic.

It is a visual inspection of readily accessible areas. I do not open walls, move heavy belongings, dismantle systems, or perform destructive testing. I do not guarantee future performance of systems or uncover every hidden condition. No honest inspector can do that.

What I can do is inspect the visible and accessible parts of the home carefully, document what I find, explain what it means, and recommend further evaluation when conditions call for it.

Specialized testing or evaluation may be recommended for things like:

• Radon
• Water quality
• Septic systems
• Wells and flow testing
• Mold concerns
• Pest activity
• Chimneys and flues
• Structural engineering concerns
• Environmental hazards
• Specialized electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing evaluation

The inspection helps you decide what needs attention, what questions to ask, and when a specialist should be involved.

Service Area

Resonant Homes is based in Alstead, New Hampshire and serves clients throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.

Common service areas include Keene, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Lebanon, Hanover, Claremont, Sunapee, Alstead, Peterborough, Jaffrey, Newport, Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Springfield, White River Junction, Windsor, Woodstock, Rutland, Bennington, and surrounding areas.

Remote and rural properties are welcome. A lot of the most interesting houses in New Hampshire and Vermont are not sitting five minutes from the highway.