Home Health Checkup in Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA
Annual maintenance inspections for homeowners to catch small problems early, maintain your home's value, and plan for future repairs.
The roof, attic, and crawlspace are places most homeowners do not go regularly, and that is exactly where problems develop and progress unseen. A Home Health Checkup is a yearly health check on those unvisited areas. Our licensed home inspector inspects the roof, attic, and crawlspace and provides a written report of items needing maintenance or correction.
This is not a full home inspection — it is an abbreviated inspection performed periodically to check the essential hidden areas. Issues where occupants live and frequent are usually discovered through day-to-day living, but the roof, attic, and crawlspace are rarely if ever visited, so they need periodic inspection to make sure everything is in good condition.
Inspection Types
Buyer Inspections
Learn as much as possible about the home you are buying to protect your investment.
Seller (Pre-Listing)
Get more money faster by identifying and repairing items in advance of listing your home.
Home Maintenance
If you have lived in your home for five or more years, it is a good idea to have it inspected to find developing issues.
Areas of Inspection
Roofing
Damaged, worn-out, or missing shingles, which let water seep in and lead to leaks, mold growth, and structural damage; cracked plumbing vent boots, which typically break down and split in the 10–15 year range and need replacing to avoid leaking; and exposed nail and screw heads, which allow water to penetrate the roofing material unless properly sealed.
Attic
Mold, which poses health risks and can indicate structural concerns; leaking, which causes water stains, rotting wood, and mold growth and can compromise the roof and ceilings; and ventilation and moisture problems, including the incorrect venting of bathroom, laundry, and kitchen fans that is very common on any home older than about 15 years.
Crawlspace
Leaking drain or water pipes, damaged insulation, disconnected or damaged HVAC ductwork, animal activity, and water intrusion — the issues that most often turn into expensive repairs when nobody is looking.
The Purpose of a Home Health Checkup
Because these areas are hidden and not visited by most homeowners, they develop issues that go unnoticed until the problem is bigger and costlier to fix. Getting an inspection and heading off issues now is cheaper than dealing with them later.
It is also a good way to keep the home in shape for when and if you decide to sell. Some of the costliest issues to bring up to speed during a home sale are the roof and problems in the crawlspace, and nobody — buyer or seller — likes hearing about big-ticket items during a sale. A Home Health Checkup and addressing what it finds makes a sale smoother and easier. Think of it like a yearly checkup at the doctor’s office.
What We Find in the Crawlspace
Leaking drain or water pipes cause water damage to the foundation and floor structure, and the excess moisture leads to mold growth, wood rot, and structural instability. It also attracts pests and compromises air quality: air in the crawlspace eventually ends up inside the home through the natural movement of air called stack effect, so poor-quality crawlspace air circulating through the house is a real concern.
Damaged insulation results in energy loss and higher utility bills, and wet insulation can grow mold, trap water against flooring and cause decay, and promote pest intrusion. Damaged or disconnected HVAC ductwork leads to inefficient heating and cooling, uneven temperatures, and poor indoor air quality — openings in ductwork are also a pathway for rodents, whose urine and droppings can carry pathogens into the duct system.
Animal activity damages insulation, wiring, and plumbing, creating fire and safety hazards as well as structural damage. Periodic inspection of the crawlspace is the number one way to identify it. Water intrusion leads to mold growth, wood rot, structural damage, corrosion of metal components, and standing water that becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants.
What to Expect
Our experienced home inspector visits these key areas and spends roughly 1–2 hours on site. We will talk with you after the inspection and follow up with a report containing photos and descriptions of the issues, so you can act on developing or existing problems.
Home Health Checkup Pricing
A Home Health Checkup costs less than a full home inspection. Pricing currently starts at $300 for smaller homes and increases with larger and older homes, which take longer to inspect. Prior home inspection customers receive a $25 discount coupon.
Prices are subject to change — contact 45th Parallel for current pricing.
Other Services
Home Inspections
Our comprehensive home inspections cover all major systems and components of your home, giving you the information you need to make confident decisions.
Roof Inspection
Detailed roof inspections covering materials, flashing, gutters, ventilation, and overall condition to help you understand the state of your roof.
Radon Testing
Continuous electronic radon monitoring to measure radon gas levels in your home and protect your family from this invisible health hazard.
Pre-Listing Inspections
Get ahead of the sale by identifying issues before listing. Address problems on your terms and give buyers confidence in your home.
Ready to Schedule Your Inspection?
Our certified inspectors are ready to help protect your investment.