Home Inspection

The Domicile Difference

All home inspectors are required to inspect the major systems of the home. Domicile goes far beyond the minimum standard of the Illinois Home Inspector licensing statute. We take a holistic approach, combining our extensive expertise in building science with state-of-the-art technology to provide a precise evaluation of how the house functions as a system.

We will tell you:

• how defects affect the property as a whole in terms of structural integrity, health & safety and environmental friendliness
• improvements for optimal energy performance
• the level of personal comfort you can expect in cold or hot months
• how defects in HVAC, ventilation and building shell can negatively affect your family’s health
• and much more

Our Process

At Domicile we basically inspect everything from the top down: roof, exterior, attic, foundation, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and appliances. Unlike many other home inspectors, we also inspect the roof, exterior and common areas for our condominium clients so that they are aware of any potential repair costs that may impact them in the near future.

What we’re looking for is a wide range of problems that could affect the structural integrity of the property and/or your health, safety and comfort, including:

• Moisture intrusion
• Indoor air quality
• Mold
• Combustion safety
• Defects in the building shell
• Plumbing issues
• Faulty electrical installations, retrofits and wiring
• and more…

State-of-the-Art Technology

We don’t just show up with a clipboard, flashlight and pencil; Domicile inspectors employ cutting-edge technology and tools in our home inspections, including:

• Thermal/infrared imaging [links to which detects extremely small temperature differentials between materials indicating hidden moisture, hidden insulation, thermal bypasses/large energy leaks, etc.
• Capacitance and conductance moisture meters that detect hidden moisture and water intrusion that the seller may not have disclosed
• Hygrometers that measure the moisture content and indoor humidity
• Fiber optic borescope camera to see inside small openings in walls and attics and hard-to-reach places and find hidden cavities
• Combustible gas leak detectors
• Carbon monoxide detectors that measure down to single parts per million
• Anemometers, which measure air flow
• Masonry testing equipment to determine brick, concrete and mortar absorption rates