State-Licensed · InterNACHI Certified · Certified Master Inspector
A home inspection that tells you what you’re actually buying.
Bent Nail inspects homes across Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Maryville, Farragut, Lenoir City, Clinton, Crossville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Morristown, then walks you through every finding on-site, in plain language, the same day.
Why Get A Home Inspection
An unbiased read on the house, before it’s yours.
We’re not building-code enforcers, we’re your second set of eyes. A home inspection costs a little time and money up front, and it can save you from inheriting someone else’s deferred maintenance, or from walking into a money pit with no way out. Findings often become negotiating leverage, repairs the current owner fixes before you close, rather than problems you inherit.
What’s Covered
A typical Bent Nail inspection walks the whole house.
Every system, every major component, documented with photos and explained in the report and on-site.
Garage, Driveway & Walkways
Level, secure, and free of tripping hazards. We check the garage door opener’s auto-reverse safety feature, since photo-eye sensors mounted in the ceiling instead of near the floor is one of the most common defects we find locally.
Exterior & Grading
Vegetation too close to siding, vines working into brick and mortar, and the condition of siding, eaves, soffit and fascia. Decks get particular attention, ledger board attachment, joist hangers, and baluster spacing, since the American Wood Council estimates over half of decks nationally need repair or replacement.
Roof, Attic, Insulation & Ventilation
Roof covering, plumbing vent boots, and the guttering system, your home’s primary defense against water intrusion. We also check attic ventilation: a poorly ventilated attic can cut a shingle’s life expectancy by up to 50%.
Foundations, Slabs & Floors
Slab or block-and-column, we look for cracking and settlement patterns, most commonly caused by water, the number one enemy of any foundation.
Basements & Crawlspaces
Handrails and baluster spacing on basement stairs, floor joist sizing and spacing, crawlspace encapsulation or ventilation, and sump pump function where present.
Plumbing Systems
Supply lines and waste drains. In older homes across the Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Clinton areas, we regularly find S-traps instead of P-traps, which can let sewer gas back into the house.
Electrical Systems
Service entrance cable, meter base, panel grounding and bonding, wiring type, breaker sizing, and GFCI/AFCI function.
Heating & Cooling
Heat pumps, packaged gas furnaces, and split systems, all common across Knoxville, Oak Ridge and Maryville. We document system age to help you plan for remaining service life, and check condensate drains, ductwork, and return filters.
Interior & Egress
Doors, windows, flooring, walls and ceilings, with special attention to bedroom windows meeting egress requirements for fire safety. Every receptacle and light switch gets tested, along with GFCI protection at kitchens and baths.
Appliances
Dishwashers, ranges, disposals, washers, dryers, refrigerators and built-in microwaves, checked for power and basic function.
Why Choose Bent Nail
Built to be understood, not just delivered.
- ✓Certified through the State of Tennessee, the National Home Inspector Examination, and InterNACHI, exceeding InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice.
- ✓A private online report link with downloadable PDF, and Realtor access on request.
- ✓Every critical valve tagged on-site: main water shutoff, hot water shutoff, water heater fuel shutoff, furnace fuel shutoff, and sprinkler system shutoff.
- ✓Major, minor, and safety deficiencies clearly separated, so you know what’s urgent versus what’s routine maintenance.
- ✓Upcoming major expenditures flagged early, so you can budget for them instead of being surprised.
- ✓A full on-site walkthrough of the report, so you leave understanding the house, not just holding a PDF.
Where We Inspect
Local home inspection, city by city.
Bent Nail inspects homes throughout the greater Knoxville and Oak Ridge market. Each city below has its own local page: typical construction types, common defects we see in that market, and area-specific scheduling info.
Oak Ridge, TN
Anderson & Roane County inspections, our home turf.
Core MarketKnoxville, TN
Knox County’s largest inspection market.
Core MarketMaryville, TN
Blount County growth corridor.
Core MarketFarragut, TN
West Knoxville’s high-value market.
Core MarketLenoir City, TN
Loudon County, Tellico & Fort Loudoun Lake.
Core MarketClinton, TN
Anderson County, minutes from Oak Ridge.
Core MarketCrossville, TN
Cumberland Plateau new construction and resale.
Core MarketSevierville & Pigeon Forge, TN
Log cabins, short-term rentals, and residential homes.
Licenses, Certifications & Affiliations
Credentials that back up the report.
View our full list of certifications →
Verify our Tennessee home inspector license →
Bent Nail is also listed as an elite home inspector on Inspectopia.com.
Common Questions
What to expect from a Bent Nail inspection.
How long does a home inspection take?
Most single-family homes take two to four hours on-site, depending on size, age, and accessibility of the crawlspace, attic, and mechanical systems.
Can I attend the inspection?
Yes, we encourage it. We walk you through findings in person and explain how each system works, not just what’s wrong with it.
When do I get the report?
You get a link to your online report the same day, with a downloadable PDF. Your Realtor can get access too, on request.
Do you inspect radon, mold, or well water too?
Yes. Radon, mold, air quality, asbestos, lead, well water, and septic dye testing can all be added alongside your home inspection. Radon testing is handled through our sister company, Rn86 Solutions.
One Call Covers More
Our sister companies can help too.
Rn86 Solutions
Radon testing and mitigation across East Tennessee, run by the same certified team behind your inspection.
Visit Rn86 Solutions →
Q36 Pest Control
Termite and pest inspection and treatment, coordinated seamlessly with your home inspection timeline.
Visit Q36 Pest Control →Ready to schedule your home inspection?
Pay now, or pay at closing. Call for details.