Buying or Selling a Home in Cortland? Get the Chimney Inspected

A chimney is easy to overlook during a home sale and expensive to inherit broken. A Level 2 inspection before closing protects both buyer and seller, and it is the standard for a reason in Cortland transactions.

For buyers

You take on whatever the chimney’s condition is the moment you own the home. A standard home inspection rarely includes a camera scan of the flue, so cracked liners, hidden creosote and needed repairs often go unseen until the new owner lights a fire. A Level 2 inspection reveals them before you are the one paying to fix them.

For sellers

A clean inspection is a selling point, and fixing a known issue up front beats renegotiating after the buyer’s inspector finds it. Documentation that the chimney was professionally evaluated and is safe gives buyers confidence and keeps a chimney surprise from derailing the deal at the last minute.

Why specifically a Level 2

NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 inspection at the sale or transfer of a property. It adds a full video scan of the flue interior and checks of accessible attic, crawl space and roof areas to the basic visual inspection — the depth a change of ownership warrants, because the new owner inherits any hidden problem.

What it covers

We camera-scan the entire flue for cracked tiles and liner gaps, evaluate the firebox, smoke chamber, crown, cap and flashing, and check the masonry. You get a clear written report of the condition and any recommendations — exactly what a careful buyer, seller or agent wants in hand.

Quick and worth it

A Level 2 inspection is inexpensive relative to what a hidden flue problem can cost, and we can complete one and deliver the documentation in time for your Cortland closing. It is one of the smartest small steps in a real estate transaction.

Timing the inspection with your closing

For a home sale, schedule the chimney inspection early in the process, not the week of closing. An early Level 2 inspection gives everyone time to react: if it turns up a needed repair, the seller can address it or the parties can negotiate it before the deal is under pressure. Leaving it to the last minute is how a chimney finding derails a closing. Whether you are buying or selling in Cortland, building the inspection into your timeline — the way you would a general home inspection — keeps a fixable chimney issue from becoming a deal-breaker.

Published October 13, 2026 · Imperial Chimney Sweepers, DeKalb, IL