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Eaves, Soffits and Fascia
Eaves, soffits and fascia, are tucked in at the base of the roof, and, in the case of fascia, often covered by the gutters, can be difficult to assess prior to purchasing a property. All of the pieces are high in the air, and tucked up against the house.

Visible components of the eaves, fascia and soffits should be part of any complete home or commercial property inspection. A NPI professional will use a ladder, binoculars or a combination of the two, to visually inspect the soffit, the vents, the eaves and the fascia, or trim on the exterior of a structure. Cracks, rot, rust stains or missing vent covers can be a sign of other problems. Because soffits are horizontal, they often make a good place for birds, squirrels or other pests to make their homes. Any water that backs up against the eaves can pool inside the soffits, causing mold, mildew and rot.
 
From the attic, inspectors can check to see if any vents in the soffits are clear and free of debris. It is critical for baffles to be installed on each vent. Baffles exist to keep the insulation from blocking these vents allowing free air movement through the attic.
 
Bee Advised
Both bees and wasps can be beneficial to the natural environment. Wasps are predators, helping to control other insects. Bees pollinate plants and produce honey and wax. That doesn’t mean they should be invited to share our living spaces.

Paper wasps commonly build paper-like nests under the eaves of homes, businesses or other structures. Bees typically build their colonies once they have found their way inside an open cavity, preferably a hollow tree, but sometimes a wall, attic or unprotected chimney. Preventing bees or wasps from taking up residence means limiting access to nesting sites, food and water supply.
 
  • Caulk all holes around the building's exterior.
  • Use screens of less than 1/8 inch opening in weep holes or over soffit vents
  • Cover outside trash cans tightly
  • Remove trash frequently
  • Fill in low spots where water pools after it rains

 


If you find evidence that bees or wasps are living on or in your building, the best thing to do is to call a licensed professional. In the case of honey bees, extermination is not the end of the story. The hive must be located, the honeycomb removed and repairs made to seal the area completely or another colony may move in on top of the old one.
 
Soffits and Eaves
Eaves are the projected overhang at the bottom of a roof line on a building with a sloped roof. The soffit is the horizontal piece that usually connects the bare timber of the eaves to the exterior walls of the home. In some designs, the eaves are left open, but in most cases, they are closed-off and used as part of the attic ventilation system.

Ventilation of the attic simply means promoting the exchange of air through the space which is usually not served by the heating and air conditioning equipment. Proper ventilation keeps the attic cooler in the summer, prevents ice dams in the winter and helps flush warm, moist air out before it can condense on structural framing components causing mildew, mold and rot.

Attic ventilation generally occurs through a combination of vents, or screened openings, in the soffit and roof, ridge or gable. About half the vents should be soffit vents at the bottom of the roof. The other vents, roof, ridge or gable, open at the top of the house. This promotes air coming in through the soffits at the bottom and lifting to exit at the top of the house, creating a preferred positive pressure.
 
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms have contributed to a 50 percent decrease in fire deaths since the 1970s according to the National Fire Protection Association. Two types of smoke alarms are common on the market, photoelectric and ionization. Sensors on each detect fires differently.

Photoelectric detectors use a light-emitting diode and a sensor. When smoke particles scatter the light beam, the detector goes off. This type of alarm goes off faster during a slow-burning, low-heat, smoky fire like those resulting from a dropped cigarette.

Ionization smoke alarms are designed to detect a flaming, fast-moving fire that creates a lot of heat. A small amount of radioactivity is used to ionize air in a chamber. The ionized air creates conductivity between electrodes.

Because it’s impossible to predict what type of fire may occur, it is a good idea to have both types of alarms in the house. Remember, ionization alarms will detect kitchen fires, one of the most common types of fires, faster. The Underwriters Laboratories recommends installing the dual-technology smoke alarms. Interconnecting all the alarms so that if one goes off they all go off may also help to alert family members faster.
 
Maintenance Matters
Many home and commercial property inspectors will offer clients a one-time re-inspection of a property for a free or reduced rate. A re-inspection commonly occurs after significant safety or maintenance items outlined in the original inspection report are repaired.

A re-inspection general takes significantly less time than a complete inspection and focuses only on the items that were marked as marginal or defective in the original home inspection report. In general, it is a good idea to prioritize safety items such as electrical issues or loose railings, before making cosmetic changes. The re-inspection is also a good opportunity to again ask the inspector to point out important shut-offs for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems. Mark these components so that they are easy to find in the event of an emergency.

Other things you might consider when you first move into a property include:
  • Labeling the circuits in electrical panels
  • Having wood burning appliances inspected by a licensed professional before the first use
  • Changing the locks on all the doors. Install dead bolts for increased security.

 

Escrow Fund at Risk
Homeowners need to know their rights when it comes to insurance and real estate tax payments left in escrow with potentially defunct companies. Companies that have declared bankruptcy may have their accounts frozen. Those that close up shop are unlikely to continue to pay on behalf of their clients.
 
Homeowners should look through the closing documents for their home to find the: tax folio number, legal description of the property, home owner's insurance policy number and the amortization schedule. These documents will help to determine if premiums and taxes have been paid.

With the information in hand, homeowners should call the insurance company and taxing authority to determine when payments are due. If it is unlikely the mortgage company will be able to make the payment on time, the home owner is advised to make the payment to prevent costly cancellations and then go back to the mortgage company for a refund.