First Defense Building Inspection is based in Tucson and owned by Kief Manning, a disaster relief inspector who holds Arizona Board of Technical Registration license #76157. If you are looking for a home inspector in Tucson, AZ, we walk the whole house from roof to slab and hand you a photo report you can actually read. Call (520) 505-1423 to talk through your timeline.
Need a date on the calendar? Call (520) 505-1423 or Schedule an inspection. Our inspection services page lists everything we do.
One city, very different houses
Tucson is not one kind of housing market. Many homes in the older central neighborhoods have been standing for decades, and their original systems may have been repaired, patched, or replaced one piece at a time. Out on the east side, newer tract homes tend to share a builder’s floor plans and materials, so a pattern we spot in one house is worth checking in the next.
We adjust our attention to the house in front of us. Buyers who want the full picture can read about our Tucson home inspection for buyers.
Older central Tucson
In established neighborhoods close to downtown and the university, we spend extra time on the parts of a house that change over the years:
- Electrical panels and wiring that have been added onto over time
- Supply plumbing made of mixed materials from different eras
- Clay or cast-iron drain lines, which a camera can check (see our sewer scope inspections)
- Ductwork and cooling equipment that were changed after the house was first built
- Room additions, enclosed porches, and windows installed by different hands
Monsoon season and Tucson roofs
Summer storms test every roof in the city. Wind-driven rain finds gaps at flashing, vents, skylights, and the spot where tile meets a wall. We look at tile, shingle, and foam roofs for cracked pieces, worn coating, ponding, and stains on the ceilings below. We walk the roof when it is safe to do so, and the report says plainly what we could and could not see.
East-side tract homes
Newer subdivisions bring a different checklist. We look at how the lot slopes, how stucco is holding up at corners and windows, how the attic is insulated, and whether the cooling system is moving air evenly through the house. If you are buying a home that is still going up, a new construction inspection can catch problems while they are easy to fix.
Getting started
We take calls seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tell us the address, the square footage, and your closing date, and we will find the earliest opening. Wondering what it will run? Our pricing page explains how size, age, and add-ons change the quote. Our office is at 8987 E Tanque Verde Rd, Ste 309 #156, Tucson, AZ 85749.
Buyers outside the city limits call us too, and we also serve Sonoita, Benson, Arizona City, Casa Grande, and Maricopa.