Dearborn Home Inspections, From Ford Homes to Postwar Brick

Some of the oldest suburban housing in our area

Dearborn's housing reaches back further than most of western Wayne County. Its best-known example is the Ford Homes Historic District, about 250 two-story houses built from 1919 to 1921 for workers at Henry Ford & Son's tractor plant. They were built with assembly-line methods: specialized crews dug the full basements, laid the walls, framed, and finished, one house after another. Beyond that district, Dearborn has many 1920s through 1950s bungalows, Tudors, colonials, and brick postwar homes.

What a 70- to 100-year-old house can hide

Homes from the 1920s and 1930s may still have knob-and-tube wiring somewhere in the walls or attic, even after an updated panel was installed. We look for it, along with ungrounded circuits, overfused breakers, and DIY junctions. Plumbing may include galvanized supply lines, lead service lines on some older properties, and cast-iron or clay drains. Chimneys, plaster walls and ceilings, and decades of renovations get a close look, and we flag materials that may contain asbestos or lead paint for proper testing.

Inspection scope: For any homeowner, whether you're buying, selling, or simply maintaining your home. Our home inspection is a visual inspection of the home's readily accessible systems and components.

Basements and flood history

In late June 2021, a historic storm dropped more than six inches of rain on parts of the region in about a day, far beyond what the sewer system was designed to handle, and caused widespread basement backups in Dearborn. Because of that history, we look closely at basement walls and floors for signs of past water, ask about backwater valves and standpipes, check sump pumps where present, and note any finished basements that could be hiding damage. We'll also suggest asking the seller directly about flood history and insurance claims.

Respecting older homes

Old houses aren't problems to be fixed. They need informed owners. Our goal is a clear, fair report that separates real defects from normal age. After the inspection, our handyman service, small engine repair, and Cozy & Clean cleaning coordination are just a call away at 313-643-0815.

Services for Dearborn homes

• ICA certified home inspections
  For any homeowner. A visual inspection of readily accessible systems and components.
• Light handyman
  Inspection-report fixes and punch lists.
• Small engine repair
  Mowers, snowblowers, generators, and more.
• Cleaning coordination
  Move-in and move-out cleans with Cozy & Clean.

Also serving: Livonia · Westland · Canton · Plymouth · Farmington Hills · Novi · Redford