GetAPro LLC
This home inspection in Bannockburn, IL covered 72 individual items across the exterior, roof, garage, kitchen, interior, bathroom, fireplace, plumbing, heating, cooling, electrical, and structural systems. The findings included 9 safety hazards, 26 recommended repairs, and 23 maintenance items, with the electrical panel accounting for the most serious safety concerns.
Electrical Panel and Wiring
This home's main panel is a Challenger panel, a brand that, like Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels, has a documented history of breakers that don't reliably trip under overload conditions. This alone is worth having evaluated by a licensed electrician with a plan to budget for replacement. Beyond the panel brand itself, several more urgent issues were found inside the panel: cut conductors at a circuit breaker, and breakers that had been taped over, both of which are serious safety concerns that should be corrected immediately, not just monitored. The panel also showed corrosion inside and on the wires and was improperly labeled. Elsewhere, exposed or missing bulbs and covers on connected fixtures, a flickering light fixture, and damaged or improperly installed cover plates were noted, along with a recommendation for GFCI-protected outlets in the garage.
Garage Doors
Both garage doors had safety findings: the occupant door was not self-closing as it should be, and the main garage door was not reversing under pressure, an important safety feature that prevents serious injury if someone or something is in the door's path when it closes. Both should be repaired promptly. The garage slab also showed some heaving.
Fire and Venting Safety
The fireplace was missing its ember barrier, which helps keep embers from escaping onto the surrounding floor or carpet, an inexpensive and important fix. The dryer vent uses improper vent material, which is a fire hazard since lint can build up more easily in flexible foil or plastic ducting than in rigid metal venting. A chimney sweep and Level 2 inspection is recommended before regular use of the fireplace.
Interior Safety
The stairway's handrail was found not continuous, which reduces its usefulness in preventing a fall, and an area of elevated floor was flagged as a trip hazard. Both are worth addressing directly. Elsewhere, hardwood floors showed warping, and doors throughout the home had a mix of minor issues: a side door with improper operation, a defective locking mechanism on one door, a screen door off its track, and closet doors needing adjustment. Windows showed general wear and could use maintenance.
Roof and Attic
The roof is covered in cedar shingles, some of which are split, cracked, or curled, along with the ridge caps. Downspouts were missing, damaged, or improperly terminated in places, allowing water to discharge too close to the foundation. Signs of previous leaks were noted in the attic, along with a spot where sunlight was visible through the roof structure, both worth a closer look to confirm there's no active or recurring leak path. Attic ventilation showed ambering (a sign of excessive heat where tree sap or resin inside wooden rafters and roof trusses heats up, liquefies, and oozes out to form hardened, golden crystal-like droplets), and an exposed electrical junction box and wires were found in the attic space as well. The attic scuttle cover was missing insulation.
Exterior
The exterior showed typical wear for a home of this age: driveway cracking, foliage and vegetation touching the house and siding, some corrosion at window wells, sagging lintels above openings, and general caulk, paint, and wood siding maintenance.
Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling
A kitchen sink showed signs of a previous water leak that should be confirmed resolved. The water heater and heating equipment both have an old-style gas valve, which is worth having evaluated for a potential upgrade. Ductwork was found missing insulation in places. The air conditioning system was tested and functioning, though regular maintenance and a tune-up is recommended, along with insulating the partially non-insulated ductwork.
Structural and Pest
The foundation had previously repaired cracks and some spalling on exterior foundation walls, both worth monitoring going forward. Radon testing is recommended, standard practice for this area. Rat and mice traps were present at the time of inspection, indicating some history of rodent activity.
Overall
With 72 items inspected, the electrical panel is the clear priority here - the Challenger panel combined with cut conductors and taped-over breakers should be evaluated by a licensed electrician as soon as possible. The garage door safety issues and the fireplace ember barrier are the next priorities before the home is regularly occupied.
