The Vellamore standard

Every room, every visit, in the same order — because a coastal house shows a change inside before it shows it anywhere else.

1. IN-01

   Relative humidity read and logged at every visit, against the range agreed for the house

   Reading recorded · Relative humidity (%)

2. IN-02

   Every room walked — ceiling corners and exterior walls first, where a coastal house shows it soonest

3. IN-03

   Under every sink, behind every appliance, and the pans under the water heater and air handler

4. IN-04

   Toilets and seldom-used taps run, so traps do not dry and let sewer gas back into the house

5. IN-05

   Refrigerator, ice maker and wine storage confirmed running, and their temperatures read

   Only where the house has one

6. IN-06

   Smoke and CO alarms checked for low-battery chirps and fault lights

7. IN-07

   Signs of roaches, ants and rodents, and the pest company called before anything establishes

8. IN-08

   Interior doors, locks, and the alarm history checked for entries we did not make

The envelope, the ground and the water. Observed from permitted vantage; nothing is climbed that should not be.

1. OUT-01

   Full perimeter walk — siding, trim, soffits, and salt corrosion on hardware and light fittings

2. OUT-02

   Roof and gutters observed from the ground

3. OUT-03

   Crawlspace entered and checked for standing water and for the vapor barrier lifting

   Only where the house has one

4. OUT-04

   Decks, rails, screens and outdoor showers, and boards that have begun to cup

5. OUT-05

   Dock, walkway and dune access where the house has them, and the pilings at low tide

   Only where the house has one

6. OUT-06

   Irrigation zones, hose bibs, exterior lighting, and heads that growth has buried

7. OUT-07

   Landscape condition, and your landscaper called if it is slipping

8. OUT-08

   Storm shutters and their hardware, tested rather than assumed

   Only where the house has one

9. OUT-09

   Outdoor kitchen, grill and furniture covers

   Only where the house has one

10. OUT-10

    Mail, parcels and anything left at the door

11. OUT-11

    Windows, exterior doors and screens — closed and secure, and checked for damage, water getting in, failed seals and the wear this coast puts on everything

Run and checked at every visit, and noted against what was normal for this house last time. Repairs and servicing go to the licensed company that holds the system.

1. MEC-01

   HVAC running in both modes, filter date and condensate line observed

   Reading recorded · Supply temperature (°F)

2. MEC-02

   Dehumidifiers running, and their setpoint observed

   Setpoint observedOnly where the house has one

3. MEC-03

   Water heater and expansion tank, well pump or filtration system as fitted

4. MEC-04

   Generator status, last exercise and fuel level observed

   Only where the house has one

5. MEC-05

   Elevator or lift run and its visible condition checked, where the house has one

   Only where the house has one

6. MEC-06

   Pool or spa equipment running and its visible condition checked

   ObservedOnly where the house has one