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5-Point Major-Items Inspection

If It’s Got Good Bones, It’s A Good House

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Not Sure? ➡ Take Our 3-Question Quiz

What Is A 5-Point Major-Items Inspection?

It is the inspection of ONLY the 5 major areas of a home:

  1. Foundation
  2. Plumbing
  3. Roof
  4. Electrical
  5. HVAC System
  • No lights
  • No switches
  • No outlets
  • No windows
  • No doors
  • No interior walls
  • No minor maintenance items

ONLY the costly, intrusive, structural, and meaty parts.

These 5 areas are responsible for 80% of all major defects that snag or kill all real estate deals when things go wrong.

Who Is It For?

A 5-point major-items inspection is for the bare-bones buyer or real estate investor who is NOT interested in anything other than the condition of the 5 major areas listed above.

Whether you know enough to NOT be concerned, you’re buying the property as-is, funds are tight, or it’s a major rehab where most things will get replaced, all that matters to you is THE BONES.

How Is This Different From A Full Inspection?

These 5 areas are responsible for 80% of the reasons homebuyers change their minds and WALK AWAY from a home they may have loved just 5 minutes before.

Why Does It Work?

He was the Italian economist and polymath who created the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 rule) in 1906.

vilfredo pareto
the dashing Dr. Pareto

It was first used to describe the distribution of land ownership and wealth in Italy but later became the rule for cause-and-effect outcomes. It simply means that 80% of a result comes from only 20% of the action taken to get that result.

For a home inspection, this means 20% of a home creates 80% of the reasons buyers walk away.

And our 5-point major-items inspection exploits this to your advantage.

You see, over the years I’ve personally witnessed the same 5 areas play a disproportionately large role in the untimely demise of countless deals – NO matter how big or how old the home.

And the major areas NEVER change:

The 5 Major Areas of Every Home

1. Foundation

What Is Inspected:

Type

Sub-floor

Material

Columns

Cracking

Seepage

Floor

Exterior Foundation

Joists

Posts

Interior Foundation

Beams

Posts

Movement

Ceiling

Smoke detector


Click here for more about a home’s foundation

2. Plumbing

What Is Inspected:

Water supply

Sump pump

Main Valve

Venting

Water lines

Gas lines

Water heater

Drain lines

Run water the entire inspection (if vacant)


Click here for more about a home’s plumbing system.

3. Roof

What Is Inspected:

Roof

Gutters

Downspouts

Skylights

Ventilation

Chimneys

Penetrations

Shingles

Flashings

Soffits

Fascias

Attic

Framing

Ventilation

Fans

Attic access

Insulation

Exhaust

Skylights

Chimneys

Penetrations

Wiring


Click here for more about a home’s roof and attic system.

4. Electrical

What Is Inspected:

Service entrance

Grounding

Circuit wiring

Distribution panel

Sub-panel


Click here for more about a home’s electrical system.

5. HVAC

What Is Inspected:

Heating

Controls

Air distribution

Heat sources

CO detector

Chimneys

Flues

Vents

Cooling

Type of system

Air distribution

Refrigerant lines

Evaporator

Condenser

Temp. Differential


Click here for more about a home’s HVAC system.

Sample Major-Item Inspection Reports

Sample 5-Point Home Inspection Report of 5-Year-Old Home

Sample 5-Point Home Inspection Report of 45-Year-Old HomeHome

Sample 5-Point Home Inspection Report of 112-Year-Old Home

Meet Steve – Your Major-Items Home Inspector

Steve Rodriguez - your certified master inspector

Steve Rodriguez, CMI®

CLICK HERE TO CALL NOW

Award-Winning local Certified Master Inspector® Steve Rodriguez explains the Bulldog difference:

“There’s more to a major-items inspection than just checking for problems. It’s also about communicating those problems in a way YOU understand.

And not just today. Your home inspection report should be easy to understand for years to come.”

CLICK HERE TO CALL NOW

Why Did This Customer Choose Bulldog?

Tyler was a no-nonsense first-time homebuyer who interviewed a few home inspectors before finally choosing us.

When it was over, we only asked him 3 questions:

1. What do you think about our service?
2. Which services did you order?
3. Would you recommend us to others?

This is what he said.

Major-Items Inspection Guidelines

Because this is such an efficient and laser-focused home inspection, the conditions that make the major-items inspection work are simple but crucial. 

#1 – All utilities MUST be on and all pilot lights lit.

This includes

  1. Water (most important)
  2. Electricity
  3. Gas

#2 – Water MUST be flowing through the faucets when we get there.

We DO NOT open the water main valve or the street shutoff valve.

Too many times the person giving permission to turn on the water is NOT the same person who turned it off. 

That’s why we’ve seen our fair share of unexpected (and sometimes dramatic) situations that could have been avoided with a little preparation. 

All we ask is that all reasonable effort be made to ensure the water is NOT just on, but FLOWING through the faucets when we arrive for the inspection.

This NOT ONLY ensures the water lines are turned on by the person responsible, but:

  • Speeds up repairs (any leaks will be found by the owner or their representative)
  • Saves you time (you won’t be setting aside time for an inspection that won’t happen + rescheduling for another day + losing time in your inspection period)
  • Saves you the stress (you don’t want to watch water damage unfold)
  • Avoids confusion (with the homeowner or management company over what happened and why)
  • Keeps you from buying a home with new and unnecessary water damage (that you know should have been avoided)
  • Keeps negotiations from getting sticky (especially, if you’re being forced to buy the property in ‘as-is’ condition)

Thanks for understanding and helping us give you the best – and most efficient – major-items inspection possible!

Frequently Asked Questions

The average time for a major-items inspection is about an hour.

No. Unlike the full home inspection, our major-items inspection does not include the termite inspection.

The major-items inspection is an ala carte service based on the needs of real estate investors who want to pick and choose their inspection services.

But it can be ordered separately.

The answer depends on what you want and need.

Click here to take our 3-question quiz.

Yes.

But it doesn’t replace a professional home inspection. It only helps you look at the bones to find the obvious deal breakers that would scare you away BEFORE you call a pro.

And it’s based on our major-items inspection.

Click here to learn more about our DIY 30 min. home inspection checklist.

Your home inspection report will always be ready the same day and gets delivered after payment is made.

We accept:

  1. Visa
  2. Mastercard
  3. Check
  4. Money order
  5. Cash

No. Payment is required to receive your report.

Yes, of course.

A successful home inspection depends on your level of understanding not will not only increase your level of understanding, it will reduce help you make better decisions later.

Yes. I encourage you to do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

But keep in mind that distractions (including loud nearby conversations) will interfere with concentration and thus diminish the quality of the very service you’re investing in me to provide.

Yes. Absolutely. But questions should be asked before the inspection starts or saved for the end when more definite answers can be given.

Great question. Yes.

▶ Take notes and jot down questions.

▶ Send anything strange or confusing to your home inspector before the home inspection.

▶ Know your budget and expectations for the home

▶ Try to attend.  There’s nothing better than hearing and seeing the outcome firsthand.

▶ Hold your questions until the end and don’t distract your home inspector while he’s working. You’re free to follow and observe, but questions and loud conversations within earshot are counterproductive.

All your questions will get answered when it’s over.

Congratulations on your new home!

best home inspectors badge in kansas city 2016-2024
top 3 home inspectors in kansas city in 2024 badge
top 25-under-25 badge
certified master inspector badge
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top home inspection companies in kansas city badge
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