Whatever the property, we look at all of it.

Because the home inspector is one of the few people involved in the transaction whose job is simply to look at the property and tell you what they see.

I'm not there to sell the house, approve the house or make the deal work. I'm there to inspect it. Whether it's a 100-year-old Baltimore row home or a house that was finished last week, my job is the same: identify the conditions that are visible and accessible, explain what they mean in plain English and give you the information you need to make good decisions.

A good inspection isn't about producing the longest report possible or frightening someone away from a house. It's about making sure you understand what you're buying before you buy it.

No. A Maryland home inspection is not a code-compliance inspection.

The state's Minimum Standards of Practice specifically make that distinction. I may identify visible conditions that are unsafe, significantly deficient or inconsistent with accepted installation practices, but the purpose of the inspection is to evaluate the visible condition and function of the home - not to certify compliance with every current code provision.

Yes. One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that a new house doesn't need an inspection because it was inspected during construction. Municipal inspections are important, but they are not the same as an independent home inspection performed for the buyer.

A new home involves dozens of trades and hundreds of individual components. Things get missed. We regularly find defects involving roofing, framing, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC equipment, insulation, drainage, windows, doors and finish work.

The purpose isn't to criticize the builder. It's to identify problems while you still have the best opportunity to get them corrected.

I recommend radon testing when purchasing a home unless there is a good reason not to.

Radon levels can vary considerably from one house to another - even between neighboring houses. The fact that your neighbor tested low doesn't tell us what the level is inside your house.

Testing can be useful when there is suspected growth, unexplained odors, a history of significant moisture problems or when someone needs additional information about indoor conditions.

Testing isn't a replacement for a good visual and moisture investigation. The important question is usually not just "Is mold present?" but "Why is it growing here?"