Expanded assessment
What the scope should cover
Discuss accessible roof, attic and crawl-space areas and internal video scanning. Identify all flues being assessed. Access limitations and any cleaning needed to make surfaces visible should be agreed before the visit.
What to keep after the visit
Ask for images or video findings tied to specific sections of the flue, a written assessment and access limitations. A generic pass/fail statement leaves a buyer unable to compare repair proposals.
The question worth asking
“Does the quote include every connected flue and the full inspection report?”
Ask for the answer in the written scope. If the work changes after access or inspection, request a revised scope and price before approving the additional work.
Prepare without taking risks
Coordinate with the seller or agent for access. Supply previous reports and appliance information; a general home inspection is not automatically a specialist chimney inspection.
Confirm appointment access, who will be present and what records to have ready. Preparation does not mean dismantling the appliance, climbing the roof or reproducing a dangerous symptom.
Compare companies for this particular job
- Confirm experience with your chimney type and appliance model. A company that cleans masonry fireplaces may not service every gas or pellet appliance.
- Ask who performs the work, what credentials apply to that person and how you can verify them with the issuing organisation.
- Check current insurance and any local licensing or permit requirements directly. A profile badge is not proof of every qualification.
- Compare access, materials, diagnostic work, disposal, exclusions and follow-up. A lower total can represent a smaller scope.
Read the detailed homeowner guide
The service brief helps you commission the visit. Our longer guide explains terminology, system differences, examples, FAQs and its supporting sources.
Read the full level 2 chimney inspections guideSafety background: USFA, CPSC and recognised industry resources. These buying questions are editorial guidance, not installation instructions or an assessment of your home.
Connected symptoms and examples
Make the written proposals comparable
Ask each company to answer the same scope questions. A higher or lower price may reflect different work, access or deliverables.
- Trigger
- Record the transaction, system change, operating event or other reason the additional assessment is proposed.
- Internal examination
- Clarify the imaging method, flues covered and whether the recording or labelled images will be supplied.
- Access coordination
- Confirm access to relevant roof, attic, basement and crawl spaces with the occupants.
A misunderstanding worth avoiding
A camera charge alone does not describe a complete inspection. The scope must still identify the system, reason for the visit, accessible areas and documented findings.
A question homeowners ask
What should I ask about a camera image I do not understand?
Ask where it was taken, what the technician observes, what remains uncertain and why the proposed next step follows. A close-up without a component or location reference is difficult to use when seeking a second opinion.
The record to keep for the next visit
For a property transaction, establish who receives the full report and when. Keep repair estimates separate so the inspection findings remain available even if a different company performs the work.
Build an evidence and follow-up recordTake the service question to your location
Use the local guide to prepare questions about access, building history and the authority responsible for your address. The service brief is national guidance; local permits and current burn restrictions must be checked separately.