The Indianapolis housing market is hot right now. Realtors all over the city—from Brownsburg to Geist to Zionsville—are in full swing showing homes to prospective buyers while simultaneously putting new homes on the market.

Brick + Ember Outfitters understands that you, as realtors, are busy, which is why we want to help make your life easier. One way we do that is by performing chimney inspections on houses before you put them on the market. Our inspections are all-encompassing—not only can we do a chimney sweep, we’ll check for functionality on all masonry structures of your home, including brick deterioration on your patio and sides of houses. In the end, this small act can save you time and money.

Before we get into how that happens, let’s first take a look at why you need an inspection and what an inspector will do for you.

Why you need a chimney inspection

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a chimney inspection is required before a property is sold if there have been any events that could have caused damage (i.e. fire, earthquake, flooding). Having this requirement done early on in the process could help you speed up the sale of the home.

What a chimney inspector does

It’s important to hire a trained and certified chimney technician to inspect your chimney. Here’s what they should do as part of their inspection:

  • Ensure that there are no blockages in the ventilation system
  • Examine the smoke chamber, damper, crown/cap, firebox, masonry and structural elements to make sure they are all performing properly
  • Go into the crawlspace to look for signs of deterioration/damage on the exterior around the chimney
  • Utilize a video inspection tool to examine the chimney from top to bottom

After the inspection, you will receive a detailed report of the findings with recommendations for repairs if necessary.

When chimney inspections are delayed until you find a potential buyer, they could be scared off by problems that are uncovered. Why not fix the problems before they become an issue?

What chimney inspectors find

When chimneys are inspected, it’s common to find hidden issues. The most common of which are:

  • Not meeting standards for the height of the chimney
  • Chimney liners that are improperly installed, deteriorated or damaged
  • Chimney flashing that isn’t properly attached to chimney causing interior water damage
  • Cracked crowns, missing chimney caps, deteriorated brick and mortar joints causing water damage
  • Safety codes that aren’t met due to improper installation, neglect, or deterioration of fireplaces, chimneys, or stoves

Once issues are discovered, they can be addressed. Doing so can ensure that your fireplace and chimney are in good working condition, which will make your house more appealing to possible buyers.

As you are preparing to put your homes on the market, make it a point to have the chimneys inspected. Doing so could save you time and money in the long run.

Are you in need of a chimney inspector? Our Outfitters have extensive experience performing inspections. We’re happy to answer all of your questions and share with you what we believe are the best solutions for any issues we discover. It’s our goal to help make your homes as safe and ready for the market as they can be.

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