Check your vents and screens

If a mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, think what kind of animal could fit through here! I love animals, but they need to stay in the wild, not under your house. I've seen wires chewed on (fire hazard), ducts filled with rodent nests (definite health hazard), and various bones from who knows what decided to eat what. I have not encountered any large animals yet, while in crawlspaces, and hopefully never will. If you love your house like I do and want to make your home inspector happy, please check all your crawlspace vents and screens. Thank you!!!!

Check your gas meter

Just because SDG&E comes by your meter periodically to read and (hopefully) be sure it's in good working order, it may not be safe. If there is a rotten smell around the pipes, it could be a leak. Also, look for excess corrosion. The pipe near these meters were so bad (probably from the sprinklers hitting them continuously), the walls of the pipes were almost eaten through.

Insulate your ducts

Are your air ducts insulated properly? If not, your energy bills could be going though the roof, literally. It is wise to have your attic inspected. Not just for efficiency, but safety as well.

Chimney spark arrestors

Here in San Diego, we have been through 2 major fires within the last decade and I still run into this all the time...a chimney with no spark arrestor. This particular house was inspected in a rural community and it gets bone dry in the summer. Stay safe and keep your community safe. Be sure a spark arrestor is in place.

Attic ladders

Pull Down Ladders.

So you're going to put a pull down ladder in your garage attic...Is the garage connected to your house? Does the ceiling/ladder need to be fire rated? Be sure to ask yourself these questions before you start. There are fire codes in place to keep your home safe if a fire should start in your garage (which is where most fires start). Be sure your home is safe!

Monitor your eaves.

Your eaves are very prone to moisture and termite damage. This is the last place water runs off your roof, and if the water is not running off correctly, it may be collecting water and damaging your home, like in this picture.

Also, have you ever noticed when it starts to heat up, termites grow their wings and start flying around? Guess where they go? The eave is usually the easiest access and they love pine, which is typically the wood that your eave boards are made of. So the next time it heats up, pay close attention to those things flying around that look like ants with wings. If they are searching around under your eaves, chances are, they're not flying ants!

What's your water pressure?

Do you know what the water pressure to your home is? Too much and you can cause damage to your fixtures in your home. Too little and your standing under the shower waiting. The latter is obvious. The former can be damaging. According to the literature I have read, you need to keep it under 85 psi. 70 psi should be a comfortable pressure.