GetAPro LLC
A home inspection is really a story about risk: what's aging, what's been patched over, and what could become a costly surprise after closing. As Chicago home inspectors, we walk through every major system in a house, roof to foundation, so buyers go into closing with their eyes open. Here's what that actually looks like, room by room.
Roof, Attic, and Chimney
The roof is one of the most expensive things to replace in a home: the shingles or other covering, the flashing around chimneys and skylights, and the gutters and downspouts that are supposed to carry water away from the house rather than toward it. In the attic, we're looking at insulation and ventilation, since a poorly ventilated attic can trap moisture and shorten the roof's life from underneath. If there's a fireplace or wood-burning appliance, the chimney and flue get checked too, cracks or deterioration there can be a fire or carbon monoxide risk, not just a cosmetic issue.
Exterior and Structure
Everything about the outside of a house works together to keep water out: siding, trim, grading, and drainage. Dirt piled against the foundation, or a yard that slopes toward the house instead of away from it, is one of the most common things we find, and it's often an easy fix with real consequences if ignored. We also look at the foundation and framing wherever it's visible, basement, crawl space, attic, since this is the part of the house holding everything else up, and any sign of past water intrusion here tells a story worth paying attention to.
Doors, Windows, and Interior
Inside, we're checking the everyday things a buyer will actually live with: windows that open and lock properly, doors and garage door operators that work safely, floors and ceilings for cracks or signs of a past leak, and whether the kitchen appliances included in the sale actually function. None of this is glamorous, but it's exactly the kind of thing that's easy to overlook during a quick showing and expensive to discover after moving in.
Heating and Cooling
A furnace or AC system in rough shape doesn't always announce itself, it might run fine during a quick test but still be near the end of its life. We check the equipment itself, the ductwork, and the controls, and note the age and type of system so a buyer knows roughly what they're working with and when a replacement might realistically be on the horizon.
Plumbing
Plumbing problems are often invisible until they aren't: a slow leak behind a wall, aging pipe material, a water heater quietly nearing the end of its service life. We trace the water supply and drain lines, check the water heater's condition and capacity, and confirm where the main shutoff is, something every homeowner should know but surprisingly few do until they need it in an emergency.
Electrical and Safety
Electrical issues get extra attention, because they're one of the few things on this list that can genuinely put people at risk if missed. We check the panel, the wiring, outlet protection, and make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working as Illinois law requires. An outdated panel or missing GFCI protection won't necessarily cause a problem tomorrow, but it's exactly the kind of thing worth knowing about before you own it.
Why It Matters
Every home inspector in Illinois follows the same state Standards of Practice, so you're not just getting one person's opinion, you're getting a structured look at the house built around what's actually likely to matter. We deliver a detailed report, usually the same day, with photos of anything worth a closer look, so you can make the decision to buy with real information instead of a guess.
Thinking about buying soon? Schedule your inspection and know exactly what you're getting into before you close.
