GetAPro LLC
This home inspection in Des Plaines, IL covered 67 individual items across the exterior, roof, garage, kitchen, interior, plumbing, cooling, and electrical systems. The findings included 11 safety hazards, 25 recommended repairs, and 13 maintenance items, with the garage door safety features and the electrical panel standing out as the priority items.
Garage Door Safety
The garage door had two separate safety findings worth taking seriously together: the photoelectric safety sensors (the small eyes near the bottom of the door track that stop the door from closing on an obstruction) were mounted at an elevated, non-standard height, and the door itself was not reversing under pressure. Both reduce the door's ability to protect against injury if something or someone is in its path when it closes, and both should be corrected promptly. The garage also had some slab cracks and incomplete or missing weather stripping.
Kitchen
The kitchen range was installed without an anti-tip bracket, a simple, inexpensive safety device that keeps the stove from tipping forward if weight is placed on an open oven door. This is a quick, low-cost fix worth doing before move-in.
Electrical
The home's electrical panel is an older unit with multiple issues noted, worth having evaluated by a licensed electrician to determine what specifically needs correcting and whether the panel itself should be budgeted for replacement. GFCI protection is required at several receptacles, including specifically in the bathrooms. Connected fixtures had exposed or missing bulbs and covers, and a ceiling fan was found wobbly, which can indicate the electrical box isn't properly supported for the fixture's weight. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were missing or over 10 years old and due for replacement. The service entrance also had a broken or missing seal at the meter.
Interior and Stair Safety
The exterior landing steps had inconsistent stair height, a common but real trip hazard since our bodies expect each step to be the same height. A closet door mirror was found cracked, which is a safety concern given the risk of broken glass. Elsewhere, cosmetic wear was noted on ceilings, walls, trim, and cabinets, along with cracked floor tiles and a damaged countertop.
Roof and Attic
The roof showed damaged or missing shingles, some lifted shingles, exposed nails, and granule loss consistent with age. A section of rolled roofing had loose seams, and the metal chimney crown was rusted, with improper tar-and-goop style flashing noted at the chimney and roof penetrations. Downspouts were missing or damaged in places, and a section of roof sheathing was found damaged. Attic ventilation was a recurring theme throughout this inspection: ambering (a sign of past heat or moisture issues), an inoperable attic fan with exposed electrical wires, baffles not visible, insufficient overall ventilation, higher-than-expected attic temperatures, microbial growth, and generally limited ventilation. Together these point to a ventilation system worth having fully evaluated, since poor attic airflow can shorten roof life and contribute to moisture problems over time.
Plumbing
The water heater is connected with a flexible gas line and has an old-style gas valve, both worth having evaluated by a licensed plumber. The washer was missing its washer pan, which helps catch and direct water away in case of a hose failure or overflow.
Cooling
The air conditioning system was tested and found functioning, though regular maintenance and a tune-up is recommended.
Overall
With 67 items inspected, this home is in generally serviceable condition, but the garage door safety sensors, the missing anti-tip bracket, and the older electrical panel are the priority items to address for safety before moving in.
