This lead-containing dust has been cited as a cause of mental retardation in children, he said. Among other components inspected are all the kitchen equipment, the fireplace, the chimney and operation of the damper. An inspection should cover the heating and cooling system, but, depending on the weather, it might not be possible to run both on the same day, Mr. Butterfield said. If that is the case, he said, he suggests a buyer insert a clause in the contract to cover it. I do not accept fuse boxes.
Fuse boxes are old and outmoded.
I recommend they be updated to circuit-breaker panels with a minimum 150 amps. I also check the plumbing pipes, check the water line coming into the house and the shut-off valve. Lots of old houses in D.C. have lead lines coming into the house. What we're looking for in new houses are things that may develop into problems or may not have been completed by the builder. Stairway and balcony railings can be dangerous to children if there is too much space between the pickets and the railing.