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 ASHI Standards of Practice)

Alarm Systems:  Warning devices installed or freestanding including but not limited to smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flue gas, and other spillage detectors, and security equipment

Automatic Safety Controls:  Devices designed and installed to protect systems and components from unsafe conditions

Component:  A part of a system

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

Describe:  To identify (in writing) a system or  component by its type or other  distinguishing characteristics

Dismantle:  To take apart or remove any component, device, or piece of equipment that would not be taken apart or removed by a homeowner in the course of normal maintenance

Engineering:  The application of scientific knowledge for the design, control, or use of building structures, equipment, or apparatus

Further Evaluation:  Examination and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman, or service technician beyond that provided by the home inspection

Home Inspection:  The process by which an inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a home and which describes those systems and components in accordance with these Standards of Practice

Household Appliances:  Kitchen, laundry, and similar appliances, whether installed or free-standing

Inspect:  To examine any system or component of a building in accordance with these Standards of Practice, using normal operating controls and opening readily openable access panels

Inspector:  A person hired to examine any system or component of a building in accordance with these Standards of Practice

Installed:  Attached such that removal requires tools

Normal Operating Controls:  Devices such as thermostats, switches, or valves intended to be operated by the homeowner

Readily Accessible:  Available for visual inspection without requiring moving of personal property, dismantling, destructive measures, or any action that will likely involve risk to persons or property

Readily Openable Access Panel:  A panel provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance that is readily accessible, within normal reach, can be removed by one person, and is not sealed in place

Recreational Facilities:  Spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools, exercise, entertainment, athletic, playground or other similar equipment, and associated accessories

Report:  Communicate in writing

Representative Number:  One component per room for multiple similar interior components such as windows, and electric receptacles; one component on each side of the building for multiple similar exterior components

Roof Drainage Systems:  Components used to carry water off a roof and away from a building

Shut Down:  A state in which a system or component cannot be operated by normal operating controls

Siding:  Exterior wall covering and cladding; such as: aluminum, asphalt, brick, cement/asbestos, EIFS, stone, stucco, veneer, vinyl, wood, etc.

Solid Fuel Burning Appliances:  A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be built and that is built in conjunction with a chimney; or a listed assembly of a fire chamber, its chimney, and related factory-made parts designed for unit assembly without requiring field construction

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

System:  A combination of interacting or interdependent components, assembled to carry out one or more functions.

Technically Exhaustive:  An investigation that involves dismantling, the extensive use of advanced techniques, measurements, instruments, testing, calculations, or other means

Under-floor Crawl Space:  The area within the confines of the foundation and between the ground and the underside of the floor

Unsafe:  A condition in a readily accessible, installed system or component that is judged to be a significant risk of bodily 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

Wiring Methods:  Identification of electrical conductors or wires by their general type, such as non-metallic sheathed cable, armored cable, or knob and tube, etc.

 

 

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.