Get Educated !! About Your Home Purchase B 4 U Close !

 

Kentucky home buyers, home sellers, real estate agents and realtors are provided this glossary to help understand any unfamiliar terms.

  Glossary of Home Inspection Terms

(See Below for Freddie Mac Glossary of Home Inspection Terms)

 

Glossary of Terms (From the NACHI Standards of Practice)

4.1. Accessible: Can be approached or entered by the inspector safely, without difficulty, fear or danger.

4.2. Activate: To turn on, supply power, or enable systems, equipment, or devices to become active by normal operating controls. Examples include turning on the gas or water supply valves to the fixtures and appliances and activating electrical breakers or fuses.

4.3. Adversely Affect: Constitute, or potentially constitute, a negative or destructive impact.

4.4. Alarm System: Warning devices, installed or free-standing, including but not limited to: Carbon monoxide detectors, flue gas and other spillage detectors, security equipment, ejector pumps and smoke alarms.

4.5. Appliance: A household device operated by use of electricity or gas. Not included in this definition are components covered under central heating, central cooling or plumbing.

4.6. Architectural Service: Any practice involving the art and science of building design for construction of any structure or grouping of structures and the use of space within and surrounding the structures or the design, design development, preparation of construction contract documents, and administration of the construction contract.

4.7. Component: A permanently installed or attached fixture, element or part of a system.

4.8. Condition: The visible and conspicuous state of being of an object.

4.9. Crawlspace: The area within the confines of the foundation and between the ground and the underside of the lowest floor structural component.

4.10. Decorative: Ornamental; not required for the operation of essential systems and components of a home.

4.11. Describe: Report in writing a system or component by its type, or other observed characteristics, to distinguish it from other components used for the same purpose.

4.12. Determine: To arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant to examination.

4.13. Dismantle: To open, take apart or remove any component, device or piece that would not typically be opened, taken apart or removed by an ordinary occupant.

4.14. Engineering Service: Any professional service or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences to such professional service or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design and supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance with the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures, buildings, machines, equipment, works or processes.

4.15. Enter: To go into an area to observe all visible components.

4.16. Evaluate: To assess the systems, structures or components of a dwelling.

4.17. Examine: To visually look. See Inspect.

4.18. Foundation: The base upon which the structure or wall rests; usually masonry, concrete, or stone, and generally partially underground.

4.19. Function: The action for which an item, component, or system is specially fitted or used or for which an item, component or system exists; to be in action or perform a task.

4.20. Functional: Performing, or able to perform, a function.

4.21. Home Inspection: The process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home and operates those systems and components utilizing these Standards of Practice as a guideline.

4.22. Household Appliances: Kitchen and laundry appliances, room air conditioners, and similar appliances.

4.23. Inspect: To visually look at readily accessible systems and components safely, using normal operating controls and accessing readily accessible panels and areas.

4.24. Inspected Property: The readily accessible areas of the buildings, site, items, components, and systems included in the inspection.

4.25. Inspector: One who performs a real estate inspection.

4.26. Installed: Attached or connected such that the installed item requires tool for removal.

4.27. Material Defect: Refer to section 1.2.

4.28. Normal Operating Controls: Devices such as thermostats that would be operated by ordinary occupants which require no specialized skill or knowledge.

4.29. Observe: To see through visually directed attention.

4.30. Operate: To cause systems to function or turn on with normal operating controls.

4.31. Readily Accessible: An item or component is readily accessible if, in the judgment of the inspector, it is capable of being safely observed without movement of obstacles, detachment or disengagement of connecting or securing devices, or other unsafe or difficult procedures to gain access.

4.32. Recreational Facilities: Spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools, tennis courts, playground equipment, and other exercise, entertainment or athletic facilities.

4.33. Report: A written communication (possibly including digital images) of any material defects seen during the inspection.

4.34. Representative Number: A sufficient number to serve as a typical or characteristic example of the item(s) inspected.

4.35. Safety Glazing: Tempered glass, laminated glass, or rigid plastic.

4.36. Shut Down: Turned off, unplugged, inactive, not in service, not operational, etc.

4.37. Structural Component: A component which supports non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or weights (live loads).

4.38. System: An assembly of various components to function as a whole.

4.39. Technically Exhaustive: A comprehensive and detailed examination beyond the scope if a real estate home inspection which would involve or include, but would not be limited to: dismantling, specialized knowledge or training, special equipment, measurements, calculations, testing, research, analysis or other means.

4.40. Unsafe: A condition in a readily accessible, installed system or component which is judged to be a significant risk of personal injury during normal, day-to-day use. The risk may be due to damage, deterioration, improper installation or a change in accepted residential construction standards.

4.41. Verify: To confirm or substantiate.

Freddie Mac Glossary of Home Inspection Terms

AMPERE (AMP): A unit measure of electricity.

APERATURE: The opening in pipes.

ASBESTOS: A naturally occurring mineral fiber sometimes found in older homes. It is hazardous to health when a possibility exists of exposure to inhalable fibers. Homeowners should be alert for friable asbestos and always seek professional advice in dealing with it.

AWNING WINDOWS: A window with hinges at the top allowing it to open out and up.

BASEBOARD: Usually wood or vinyl installed around the perimeter of a room to cover the space where the wall and floor meet.

BASEBOARD HEAT: A heating system with the heating unit located along the perimeter of the wall where the baseboard would be. It can be either an electric or hot water system.

BREAKER BOX: A metal box that contains circuit breakers or fuses that control the electrical current in the home.

BUILDING CODE: Minimum local or state regulations established to protect public health and safety. They apply to building design, construction, rehabilitation, repair, materials, occupancy and use.

BUCKLING: The bending of a building material as a result of wear and tear or contact with a substance such as water.

CASEMENT WINDOWS: A side hinged window that opens on hinges secured to the side of the window frame.

CAULKING: Material used to fill joints that may exist between floors and fixtures; around windows and doors, shower stalls and bathtubs, etc.

CIRCUIT BREAKER: The safety valves for electrical systems. It interrupts an electric circuit when an unusual condition arises such as lightning and malfunctioning appliances. Unlike a fuse, it can be reset.

CLASS B DOOR: A fire resistant rating applied by the Underwriters Laboratories Classification for a door having a 1 to 1 1/2hour rating.

CPVC: Plastic water piping rated for hot water.

CRAWL SPACE: Shallow space between the underside of the first floor of a house and the ground.

CUTOFF VALVES: Valves used to shut water off, generally located under sinks or behind bathtub and shower access panels. They cutoff hot and/or cold water at the source without cutting all water off throughout the house.

DAMPER: An air valve that regulates the flow of air inside the flue of a furnace or fireplace.

DISPOSER: A device that grinds food sufficiently to enter drains for disposal without clogging.

DORMER: A converted attic with windows projecting through a sloping roof.

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW: A window with sashes that slide vertically and allow opening from the top and bottom.

DRYWALL: A gypsum board material used for walls or ceilings.

DUCTWORK: A system of distribution channels used to transmit heated or cooled air from a central system (HVAC) throughout a home.

EAVES: The section of the roof that overhangs the walls of a house.

EXHAUST FAN: